We are still a long way from achieving each state government's recycling targets. This article details the key reforms required, as well as the role of government, in order to move closer to these targets.
T
he landfill price rises are driving resource recovery infrastructure investment. For most states, the levies are now a signifi-
cant revenue source. In NSW, the landfill levy raises more than $600 million per year. To its credit, the NSW Government has used these funds to establish the $465.7 million infrastructure and recycling grants program. These funds are granted to private companies and councils (up to $5 and $10 million respectively) for new or improved recycling infrastructure.
Closing in on recycling targets State of waste 2016 Part 2 Mike Ritchie, Director, MRA Consulting Group
The NSW levy, combined with the grant funding, is seeding a renaissance in the development of new recycling infrastructure and job creation. Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia all have similar schemes, though at a lesser scale. Tasmania is exploring a $10/t levy, which in turn may be used to fund future grants. There are plenty of infrastructure solutions to achieve our aims. The most important infrastructure opportunities in 2016 are: • organics facilities that convert food and garden waste into compost or energy; • dirty MRFs to recover recyclables from mixed commercial waste; • automated C&D sorting platforms; • energy from waste (EfW), including: pyrolysis, gasification, incineration and anaerobic digestion offering renewable energy solutions; • processed engineered fuel for export; and • improved household and business source separation such as 360 L recycling bins, ‘3 bin systems’ for food and garden wastes, resident drop-off facilities and the like. The most important issue in infrastructure provision is that governments recognise waste as an essential service like electricity or water. The 2016 Infrastructure Australia report on the needs for infrastructure plan-
6 Sustainability Matters - Aug/Sep 2016
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