WEST ARTHUR will be one of 17 Western Australian communities to receive funding for decreasing waste and improving recycling methods.
The first round of The State Government’s Community Grants Scheme funding for 2016 will provide $128,000 for groups from regional centres including Exmouth, Denmark and the Wheatbelt.
Recipients will also include Perth-based groups from Bedfordale, Belmont and Rockingham.
WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the groups provided important initiatives and public education for minimising waste.
"The successful community projects show the dedication of the people behind these initiatives, many of whom are volunteers," he said.
"Projects include an online domestic waste reduction program, increasing plastic recycling stations, community waste management workshops, and recycling green waste at regional community gardens.
"I commend these community groups on their commitment to reducing waste and on the example they set.
"The Community Grants Scheme continues to remind us that positive attitudes and actions about waste and recycling benefit all West Australians."
The West Arthur Community Resource Centre (WACRC) will receive $1,800 to buy and print 500 jute shopping bags promoting Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and shop local messages.
WACRC Assistant Manager Rebecca South said the centre has committed to the promotion of waste reduction.
“We recycle a lot here at the West Arthur Community Resource Centre - people drop off batteries, phones, glasses and all sorts of things here,” she said.
“We were a finalist, not last year but the year before, in the Infinity recycling awards so we’re a keen place for recycling.
“We can all have a think about how we can reuse things instead of throwing them away or not buying things in the first place and just being mindful of everything that you do, then it becomes a habit and adds up over many people and many days.”
The Community Grants Scheme has donated approximately $1.35 million to 144 groups supporting waste management projects.
The government’s Waste Strategy target has aimed to divert 65 per cent of metropolitan waste from landfill by 2020.
For more information on grant applications visit http://www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au or call 6552 5800.