Official Publication of the
www.insidewaste.com.au
ISSUE 93 | DEC 2019/JAN 2020
INSIDE 24 WARR Awards 36 MWOO restrictions 38 Community engagement
Greater collaboration and resource recovery – what has been and what’s to come
PP: 100024538
ISSN 1837-5618
IT’S BEEN SAID by industry and government leaders – Australia’s waste industry is finally in the spotlight and it is getting the recognition it needs at a federal level. It has been a year of triumphs and challenges for the industry. And as Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) CEO Brooke Donnelly puts it, “Australia is working through one of the most significant transitions in our history, as we look to transform every aspect of our environmental and waste management system”. When Inside Waste spoke to Donnelly, among numerous other leaders in the waste space, she highlighted successes in the industry, but also called for everyone to continue to do more to improve waste management and resource recovery. “With a task this significant, we all need to take action and, frankly, all of us need to be a little better at what we do. “Will our actions stand the test of time? As the custodians of our country’s environmental future, we have a remarkable responsibility ahead of us. I hope we are all able to work together and find a way to be viewed as those who identified a problem, stepped up, sought solutions, took action
and led from the front.” As leaders reflect on the year that has been and look to the year that will be, Donnelly said that both parties are doing great work to bridge gaps that occurred in progress in 2019. “In 2020, it will be important to ensure that decisions relating to infrastructure are considered and planned in the strategic context of the circular economy and how the whole system operates, allowing for the interdependencies and leveraging resources. It will be important to continue to see both industry and government investing and supporting development in this space,” Donnelly said. As well as industry and government pushing through the challenges and implementing programs and policies that will grow the future of resource recovery in Australia, Western Australia’s Environment Minister Stephen Dawson pointed out that collectively, everyone need to step up their game. “As a society, we continue to generate too much waste, and in particular, waste that is avoidable or difficult to recycle. We continue to consume significant amounts of plastics, including single-
Minister Trevor Evans’ appointment to the waste portfolio has been well-received.
use plastics, which can be difficult to recycle and have serious environmental impacts when littered.” Dawson highlighted state and federal government steps that are underway to help reduce plastic consumption and increase resource recovery. “Waste and resource recovery (WARR) is now a significant priority for all Australian jurisdictions. Like never before, governments are working closely with the community and industry to address current recycling challenges. “In particular, I think a key achievement relates to packaging. In April 2018, environment ministers endorsed a target of 100 per cent of packaging being recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 or earlier. Governments are working closely with industry, through APCO to implement these commitments. This includes working with APCO on projects such as packaging design and labelling, to assist in meeting these targets. “I know the community expects greater action on waste, including packaging and plastics, and I think we are seeing some real change in this sector,” Dawson said. (Continued on page 18.)