ACOR demands recycling focus in federal election

Australian Council of Recycling CEO Grant Musgrove

The Australian Council of Recycling is appealing to all parties contesting the federal election to act to address Australia’s low recycling rate.

In its latest report, launched on 17 June, ACOR CEO Grant Musgrove states that politicians need to work to improve Australia’s “internationally embarrassing” rate.

“Australia is losing the recycling race. This is despite being one of the richest countries in the world and having with one of the worst rates of waste generation,” said Mr Musgrove. “Logically, we should have one of the highest recycling rates in the world.”

ACOR’s CEO criticised the political parties for failing to mentioned waste and recycling as part of their environment platforms in the current election campaign, despite government’s role in this area.

“We have an extraordinary disconnect between community expectations and government action. The community supports recycling, but our national government is failing to take positive actions,” Mr Musgrove added. “The report contains positive recommendations for the next Federal Government to improve recycling rates in Australia.”

The report provides an analysis of recycling rates across the world against its GDP. Within it, ACOR call on all parties in the federal election commit to the following five actions to improve Australia’s recycling performance:

1. The parties recommit to the National Waste Strategy (previously agreed by all states and territories and the Commonwealth);

2. Reinstatement of the longstanding green procurement policies abolished by the Commonwealth by Federal Government;

3. Enforcement of Australia’s anti-dumping regulations

4. An increase in the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme’s target from 50% to 70%, or to mandate a scheme under the Product Stewardship Act; and

5. A mandatory product stewardship scheme for tyres, batteries and fluorescent lights.

The full report is available on the ACOR website.

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