Halfway to WA’s Waste Goals: Is Your Council Ready?

The WA Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 was launched in 2019, and we're now more than halfway towards 2030. The strategy sets ambitious goals for the state, including cutting waste generation by 20%, recovering 75% of materials, and ensuring all waste is managed at better practice facilities in less than 5 years.

Why Council leadership matters

These targets won’t be met without leadership from councils, including within the buildings and services they manage directly.

That’s why the strategy includes mandatory local government waste plans, designed to align council contracts, infrastructure, and services with state goals. Guidance and templates are being provided, but the responsibility to act rests with each council.

From compliance to opportunity

Aligning with the strategy isn’t just about ticking boxes. Councils that bring consistent, better practice systems into their facilities can:

• Reduce landfill volumes and cut disposal costs
• Improve recycling rates by reducing contamination
• Engage staff and the public through visible, user-friendly systems
• Get ahead of upcoming regulations, avoiding the costs of future retrofits or rushed refurbishments

Consistency also brings practical benefits: clear signage, centralised bins, and trained staff mean fewer mistakes and better data.

Getting started

Every council facility is a chance to lead by example. If your sites aren’t yet aligned with the standards you're promoting in the wider community, now is the time to start.

Method has helped councils across Australia and New Zealand build consistent systems across offices, leisure facilities, libraries, cafes and more, making recycling visible and easier for everyone to get right.

Even small actions like standardising signage, training internal teams, or auditing your waste streams can make a real difference and set you up for long-term success.

Book a time to chat with our team about what’s working for other councils and how Method can help you do the same.