Official Publication of the
ISSUE 85 | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018
www.insidewaste.com.au
INSIDE 20 Stability and continued growth 22 The IFAT special 40 Turning aspiration into action
Directing Queensland
From Liebherr’s car recycling demonstration to Terex’s biomass processing display, IFAT 2018 was a feast for the senses with the crowds bursting through the doors every morning. More on pages 22-29. Credit: Messe München
Saving an industry “in crisis”
PP: 255003/07055
ISSN 1837-5618
AT the end of June, the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications Inquiry reported on the Parliamentary Inquiry into the waste and recycling industry that commenced in August last year, putting forward recommendations to save “an industry in crisis”. The committee acknowledged that with an annual turnover of $15 billion, the sector provides an essential service and is a significant contributor to the Australian economy. However, a number of factors have led to the current challenges, the committee said, such as China’s National Sword policy, the failure across all levels of government to make policy decisions that would put the sector on solid footing, an over-reliance on the export
of low quality recycled materials to overseas destinations, which has led to a focus on quantity instead of quality in collection and sorting operations, and the disconnect between the community’s commitment “to do the right thing” and the implementation of comprehensive waste management policies. Today, Australia is lagging behind other jurisdictions which have developed policies and made investments in infrastructure and technology to establish circular economies, the committee said. The problems can no longer be ignored, and the committee has published 18 recommendations, urging governments to do more and act urgently to transition away from a linear economy to a circular economy.
For one, the committee is calling on the Australian government to prioritise the establishment of a circular economy and show leadership through the urgent implementation of the 16 strategies established under the National Waste Policy. The government should also set mandatory targets for all government departments in relation to the recycled content of materials bought directly or provided by private contractors, the committee said, adding that state and territory and local governments should also pursue sustainable procurement policies. Meanwhile, the committee urged the government to prioritise waste reduction and recycling above waste to energy. More on the report can be found on www.insidewaste.com.au
ATTRACT investment, develop new industries, and grow jobs. That’s the underlying intent of the Queensland government’s directions paper which informed the development of the state’s waste management strategy that is underpinned by a waste levy. Key points include: • A waste levy from the first quarter of 2019 - $70/t for general waste (C&D, C&I and MSW), $150/t for regulated waste category 1 and $100 for regulated waste category 2. • The levy will have no impact on households and the government will provide an annual advance on levy charges to councils that dispose of household MSW in the levy zone. • Residual waste resulting from legitimate recycling activities will have a concessional levy rate. • Levy proceeds will go to waste, environmental, and community program funding. • New performance targets - 20% avoidable waste disposed of to landfill by 2030, 10% avoidable waste disposed of to landfill by 2040, and zero avoidable waste disposed of to landfill by 2050. • Landfill disposal bans on selected waste streams and product stewardship schemes where national action has failed or community demand is evident. • Development of waste to energy. • A Recycling and Waste Management Advisory Group established. WMAA and WRIQ say there are deep-seated issues that need to be fixed, particularly around the state’s licensing and planning systems.