Infrastructure WA

54. Achieve the vision of a sustainable, low-waste circular economy by accelerating implementation of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030, including:

1. Prioritising and expediting legislative and regulatory reforms, including:
   1. reviewing the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007 to reposition waste as a resource
   2. developing a waste-derived materials framework that enables the recovery of materials derived from waste and provide for their safe use in products with recycled content  
   3. reviewing the Waste Levy, including the rate and geographical application to regional areas where feasible and practical
   4. reducing Waste Levy avoidance and evasion practices
   5. implementing the Waste Data Strategy to improve waste data collection and reporting to provide a more detailed understanding of WA’s waste streams
2. Preparing a waste-derived materials market development plan that sets out actions required to grow demand for products with recycled content
3. Strengthening the role of the WA public sector in supporting the circular economy through government procurement policies that set ambitious and progressively increasing targets to avoid and reduce waste generation, increase recovery and reuse of materials and purchase products with recycled content
4. Presenting a clear roadmap and time frames for the implementation of waste legislative and regulatory reforms (see Recommendation 54a) and market development (see Recommendations 54b and 54c), and increasing the use of the Waste Levy funds to fast-track implementation
5. investigating opportunities to improve the way mining and resources sector site waste is regulated and managed to increase recovery
6. investigating the potential for more local governments to participate in collective arrangements to enhance the provision of waste services and infrastructure, and whether local governments not participating in collective arrangements undermines the provision of cost-effective waste management services and infrastructure.

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 54 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.

Guide long-term planning and development of waste infrastructure by prioritising finalisation of a state waste infrastructure plan. The plan should include:

• identifying infrastructure required by material type and geographic location (at regional and sub-regional level, including remote areas and Aboriginal communities) and considering population growth and commercial and industry development trends
• considering the infrastructure required to manage and recover site waste from the mining and resources sector, in collaboration with the sector
• identifying infrastructure required to manage hazardous wastes and clinical-related wastes that are feasible to process and recycle in WA
• developing a clear implementation plan and public reporting framework that:
  • prioritises implementation findings to inform infrastructure decision-making
  • includes actions for government and industry to work together to identify and secure strategic sites and separation distances to protect existing and future waste infrastructure facilities and support opportunities for collocation.   

WA Government response

The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 55 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.