Waste industry leaders and politicians have hit out at a bid to block a proposed Tasmanian waste levy and delay the introduction of a Container Refund Scheme (CRS) with a new inquiry.
Rose Read, Chief Executive Officer of the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) said the move risks the development of new jobs in the ‘circular economy’.
Gayle Sloan, Chief Executive Officer of Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association Australia (WMRR) said it stands in the way of Tasmania’s progress and will jeopardise significant and positive reforms.
Last week, the Waste and Resource Recovery Bill passed the House of Assembly, just days after the Container Refund Scheme (CRS) Bill passed through.
Roger Jaensch, state Minister for the Environment, said the Waste Resource Recovery Bill establishes a statewide waste levy that will encourage the diversion of material from landfill and fund the development of viable alternatives. The Bill also establishes a Waste and Resource Recovery Board that will develop a statewide waste strategy and allocate funds from the levy to implement it.
The Labor Party voted against the waste levy legislation and asked for an inquiry into the CRS Bill when it reaches the Legislative Council.
“Sending the Bill to an inquiry would guarantee that Tasmanians won’t have a refund scheme in place next year, as currently planned,” Jaensch said. “Tasmanians think this is sensible policy that is good for the environment and long overdue.
“We have consulted widely throughout the development of both of these bills, and have listened closely to the community, stakeholders, and local government to ensure they are in the best interests of Tasmania.”
Read said Tasmania is the only state without a legislated waste levy, leaving it at the bottom of the pile in terms of recycling rates, which are 39 per cent compared to the national average of 61 per cent.
“A waste levy sends the necessary price signal to industry to invest in recycling collection and processing infrastructure, creating new businesses, more jobs, secondary resources and diverting waste from landfill,” Read said.
“Without a waste levy and the funds it generates, Tasmania is unable to leverage around $9.5 million of federal and industry funds to build the necessary recycling infrastructure to transition Tasmania to a circular economy.”
Read said the benefits of CRS are proven and New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland and Western Australia have all introduced a CRS in the past three years.
“From more jobs and higher recycling rates to social benefits for communities, it is unclear why this needs to be further investigated,” Read said.
Sloan said the waste and resource recovery industry, charities, local governments, environment groups, and the community unanimously support the proposed CRS scheme in Tasmania and its roll-out timeframe.
“We have spent two years getting to this place – where has the Opposition been during this time? We have also seen in the other jurisdictions that a waste levy brings numerous economic benefits. These moves by the Opposition seriously impact Tasmania’s chance of benefiting from these reforms and progressing in its circular ambitions, at least in the short-term.”
“It is unclear why these moves have been made by the Opposition at the eleventh hour when there have been public consultations on both important initiatives over the last 18 months, but what is clear is that there will be impacts on the procurement processes for CRS, which will be delayed, potentially depriving Tasmania of job opportunities in 2022.”
For more information visit: www.awe.gov.au/environment/protection/waste/how-we-manage-waste/recycling-modernisation-fund