ACOR call to prioritise recycled materials in packaging

The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) has called on the Australian Government to prioritise domestically produced recycled materials in packaging.

It comes as Australia’s Environment Ministers convene this week to advance reforms on packaging, including enhancing recyclability, increasing the use of recycled content, and eliminating harmful chemicals.

ACOR said prioritising local recycled materials is essential not only to strengthen Australia’s recycling system but also to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of packaging reform efforts.

Australia is a net importer of packaging materials, all of which ultimately reach domestic waste streams. At the same time, Australia has led the way in waste export regulations that require used packaging materials to be reprocessed locally.

ACOR said waste export bans are an important step towards sustainability, however domestic recyclers face a major challenge. The higher cost of local processing makes it difficult to compete with cheaper – and often unverified –imported recycled materials and without stable markets for recycled materials, the entire recycling system becomes unviable.

Suzanne Toumbourou, ACOR Chief Executive Officer, said it’s crucial that policy measures are introduced to create a level playing field for Australia’s recyclers to ensure the ongoing success of the sector.

“Implementation of eco-modulated fees, environmental standards, and mandatory domestic recycled content thresholds will help ensure that local recycling operations can compete fairly, while driving investment and innovation in Australia’s recycling infrastructure,” said Toumbourou.

“Australia’s recycling industry contributes almost $19 billion annually to Australia’s economy and supports around 95,000 jobs.

“This essential sector helps transform the contents of our recycling bins into new products. It is the critical link that closes the loop in a circular economy.”

Toumbourou said that without robust markets for recycled materials, recycling is not feasible.

“If demand for domestically processed recycled content is not supported, the future of recycling in Australia is at risk, with severe environmental and economic consequences,” she said.

“It is critical that Australia’s Environment Ministers commit to the necessary policy measures to create a fair, competitive environment for local recyclers. By prioritising domestically processed recycled content, Australia can reduce waste, create sustainable jobs, and drive meaningful progress toward a more sustainable, resource-efficient economy.”

For more information, https://acor.org.au/