CAWRA (pronounced cor-rah) is a much easier way of saying ‘Central Adelaide Waste and Recycling Authority’.

A joint initiative of the Cities of Charles Sturt and Port Adelaide Enfield, CAWRA is a local government regional subsidiary formed because we wanted to take back control of recycling for our communities.

CAWRA’s new MRF utilises the latest in optical sorting technology to produce clean commodities ideal for developing local markets. Its design future-proofs SA’s kerbside recycling sector, while reducing fire risk.

Centrally-located, it will be a ‘destination of choice’ for tours and school visits. A dedicated education room and elongated viewing platform allows for safe first-hand observation of the entire recycling process.

CAWRA aims to restore confidence in kerbside recycling for residents by enabling councils to work more effectively with local recycling businesses, to recycle more of our materials here in South Australia. We want to increase transparency and reporting of the processing of materials, and further support the circular economy through the sale of commodities and purchasing decision.

Our goal is to build the local circular economy by prioritising local markets for our materials. We prefer to recycle it here.

From now on, we’ll know where our recyclables go, and can direct it locally creating jobs in SA’s recycling sector.

CAWRA Charter

On 1 September 2020 the first sod was turned to commence the construction of the CAWRA Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). The facility officially opened on 1 February 2022 to process kerbside recycling from the Cities of Charles Sturt, Port Adelaide Enfield and has since taken on processing for other Councils.

Constructed by local business Pascale Construction, the project created local jobs during the building phase and has provided up to 20 ongoing jobs to operate the facility. The MRF provides the opportunity to partner with local businesses to buy locally made recycled products.

This MRF enables both Councils to directly demonstrate to ratepayers how we process and sell our recyclable materials, so we can be more accountable to them about how their rates are spent, and where their recycling goes.

This collaborative project between two neighbouring Councils is part of our commitment to work together to find the best solutions to make improvements for our communities.

CAWRA’s state of the art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Kilburn, South Australia provides a continuous, affordable, stable and sustainable service for the processing of kerbside recyclables.

SA’s Newest Household Recyclables Facility Opens

MRF Operator Announced

Big Boost for Materials Recovery Facility

Left to Right: Mark Withers, Clair Boan, Fred Pascale, Cathy Cooper, Richard Zanchetta, Paul Sutton, Angela Evans

CAWRA has engaged industry experts to provide a complement of skillsets within the Board. This provides the CAWRA Board with a balanced viewpoint – understanding the needs of local government and of the waste and recycling industry, and the commercial aspects of CAWRA’s business.

Left to Right: Alf Ianniello, Paul Sutton, Angela Evans, Cathy Cooper, Claire Boan, Mark Withers. Absent David Spear

CAWRA's Code of Practice for Meetings

A MRF is a Materials Recovery Facility that accepts commingled recycling – the materials from households yellow lidded bin. The facility then sorts these recyclables into a series of commodity streams ready for sale to various recycling markets. This sorting process is undertaken using a combination of manual labour and state of the art sorting equipment, including optical sorters. The MRF provides added employment opportunities for the local economy and has been designed to produce recyclable commodities of the highest quality.

A key driver for CAWRA is to support the local circular economy and develop new opportunities for recycling within our communities and our region.