Councils in WA are being officially urged to use recycled construction and demolition materials in new projects.

WA Minister for the Environment Albert Jacob says projects like building roads, car parks and drains can be made more environmentally-sound by re-using old supplies.

He says it is important to make better use of recycled construction and demolition materials to reduce the amount going to landfill.

About three million tonnes of construction and demolition waste are generated and two million tonnes go to landfill in WA each year.

“This waste makes up about half of all materials sent to landfill in Western Australia, while the products it could replace, such as limestone, are getting harder to source close to the metropolitan area,” Mr Jacob said.

“This Government's financial incentive will raise awareness about the benefits of using these recycled products.”

The WA Waste Authority has set up the Construction and Demolition Product Procurement Incentive Program with a $10 million funding package over three years.

It will be split into two streams, the first of which will provide a pre-allocated, non-competitive financial incentive payment for each metropolitan Council which uses recycled construction and demolition products in its own operations.

The second will provide open, competitive funding for the purchase and use of recycled construction and demolition products by the private sector, metropolitan Local Governments and State Government entities.

“It's our aim to see all metropolitan Local Governments using recycled construction and demolition products and experiencing the benefits,” Mr Jacob said.

“Increased use of these products is likely to see the prices of recycled construction and demolition waste fall further, and a range of information and awareness measures will ensure the community better understands the benefits of using these materials.”