Leaders of the National Waste & Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) founding member organisations have clarified their reasons for supporting its formation.
Announced on Tuesday (29 November), a statement said NWRIC will act as the industry’s national policy setting body and represent the interests of waste management and resource recovery operations across Australia. Its aims include developing a national advocacy agenda to promote best practice operations and work towards more harmonisation of waste and resource recovery legislation in the country.
NWRIC’s foundation members are Cleanaway, JJ Richards, Remondis, Suez and Veolia. Companies are eligible for council membership if they operate in at least three of Australia’s states and territories.
CEO and Managing Director of Cleanaway Vik Bansal explained why his organisation had decided to work with NWRIC as a founding member.
“I have always maintained that our industry needs a coherent and united representation, and the formation of the NWRIC is a necessary, and well overdue step toward this,” said Mr Bansal.
“We recognise that it is important for NWRIC to be a wide church and it should focus on issues that matter and create value for the industry and all its stakeholders,” he added.
Mark Venhoek, CEO of Suez in Australia, also clarified the reasons behind the business’s decision to engage with this new industry body.
“Every state government is undertaking some level of reform that affects waste management and resource recovery operators,” Mr Venhoek said.
“We believe the NWRIC will provide the framework to bring all stakeholders together to give a strong voice to private industry and support the development of our vibrant sector.”
