“Take-make-waste”: WA raw material consumption three times global average

A Curtin University-led report has revealed Western Australia consumes more than three times the global average of raw materials and needs to change its economy to reduce waste and pollution, conserve resources and lessen reliance on new materials.

Prepared in partnership with the University of Western Australia, the Planning and Transport Research Centre and Open Corridor, the report investigates how WA can move towards a circular economy which focuses on minimising waste and maximising resources by reusing, recycling and regenerating materials throughout a product’s entire lifecycle.

In 2021, WA consumed 42.9 tonnes of raw materials per person, including minerals and ores, fossil fuels, construction materials and biomass.

Although an export-orientated economy, WA’s material footprint is significantly higher when compared to other OECD countries and the global average of 12.7 tonnes per person.

Curtin Professor of Sustainability Dora Marinova said WA needed to transition away from its current “take-make-waste” approach, which has seen it become one of the most resource and emission-intensive economies in the world.

“WA has significant opportunities to benefit from circular practices, but this will require changes in policies, technology and collaboration across sectors,” Professor Marinova said.

“For example, the vast majority of products and materials we consume don’t originate from WA, which really speaks to the state economy’s reliance on trade.

“By addressing these challenges and leveraging opportunities, WA can lead the way toward a sustainable and resilient future — and do the heavy lifting required to meet the targets of Australia’s Circular Economy Framework released in 2024.”

The report outlines high-level recommendations for how WA can make the transition, including incentives such as tax reforms and subsidies, incorporating circular practices into WA’s decarbonisation strategies and identifying how resources are managed and reused within local supply chains.

It also presents the first stage in the development of the Western Australian Tool for Circular Horizons (WATCH), a digital platform designed to support circular economy efforts.

Curtin Research Associate and Open Corridor Founding Director Josh Hopkins said the aim was to develop and deploy WATCH as a public good.

“WATCH will provide industry, communities and governments insights to aid circular planning, monitoring and decision-making, from the State level down to local government,” Mr Hopkins said.

“It can help identify potential future environmental pressures and impacts, plus the appropriate response measures at those different scales.

“WATCH would aim to strengthen collaboration and position WA as a leader in combing circular economy practices, innovation and net zero goals.” A summary report is available here.