• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • List Stock
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
MARKETPLACE
  • Latest News
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • Up Front
    • Waste Management In Action
    • Council in Focus
    • Rules and Regulations
    • International
    • Product Spotlight
    • Last Word
    • Profile
    • Events
    • Sustainability in Business
  • Events
  • White Paper
  • Magazine
  • Awards
    • WIRA
    • WII
    • Foundation Awards
No Results
View All Results
  • Latest News
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • Up Front
    • Waste Management In Action
    • Council in Focus
    • Rules and Regulations
    • International
    • Product Spotlight
    • Last Word
    • Profile
    • Events
    • Sustainability in Business
  • Events
  • White Paper
  • Magazine
  • Awards
    • WIRA
    • WII
    • Foundation Awards
No Results
View All Results
Home Features

NWRIC calls for unified action

by Lisa Korycki
August 5, 2022
in Features, Last Word, Magazine
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
NWRIC
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A lack of cohesion between federal and state environmental regulations is threatening businesses. Rick Ralph, National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) Chief Executive Officer says it’s time for an overhaul. 

Over the past two years as we all lived the COVID -19 experience, we have seen the challenges of how a federation of governments should work, witnessing how states have interpreted rules and then changed them. COVID-19 was not unique in terms of these federation arrangements, but for the first time it became clear to all how mature conversations and genuine collaboration between governments agreed one thing, then states did something different. 

Regrettably the same situation presents itself in terms of our industry’s environmental regulatory environment. In terms of waste and recycling policy formation and its waste diversion targets, the talk across government and community is constant. The conversation in terms of state and federal targets being set, and policies articulating the benefits of having a ‘circular economy’ genuinely admirable.

However, not a word in any of these conversations is any form of acknowledgement about how fragmented the industry’s regulatory system is. The disconnect between federal and state regulation is wider today than it ever has been in my 42-year career in terms of how the system is being managed, regulations implemented, or how this environment is policed.

The lack of co-ordination between federal and state regulators, the setting of individual state rules without any evidence of science behind these, and the fact federal regulations are introduced but then fall over in their delivery is now fundamentally threatening legitimate business owners’ current investments and its confidence.

With the 2022 election out of the way, the new Federal Government is setting its legislative agenda, advocating reforms to many portfolios and department agendas. With respect to our business environment, it is welcome news that Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, has committed to formally responding to Graeme Samuel’s 2021 review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. 

Samuel’s review found that ‘the EPBC Act is ineffective. It does not enable the Commonwealth to effectively protect environmental matters that are important for the nation. It is not fit to address current or future environmental challenges.’ It reports ‘The EPBC Act has no comprehensive mechanism to describe the environmental outcomes it is seeking to achieve or to ensure decisions are made in a way that contributes to them. Legally enforceable National Environmental Standards should be made as the centrepiece of effective planning, regulation, and investment. This will ensure that all decisions clearly track towards improved environmental and heritage outcomes.

National Environmental Standards should be a set of binding and enforceable regulations. They should be one set of rules that apply nationwide. The Commonwealth should make the Standards, and a formal process for doing so should be set out in the EPBC Act.’

The review of the EPBC Act would set a new order in terms of us having legally enforceable national environmental standards and guidelines, and how these would then translate to interaction with state environmental laws.

In terms of the waste management and resource recovery industry, one doesn’t have to dig very deep to see clear evidence of the systemic regulatory disconnect NWRIC members are challenged with daily.

As example, The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Waste has responsibility for the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP). It provides nationally agreed guidance on the management of PFAS contamination in the environment, including prevention of the spread of contamination. 

Yet despite us having an agreed federal guideline to manage PFAS, state regulators and our elected state members are overriding these by setting their own rules. 

Evidence shows that in one state we have the regulatory scenario where you can purchase fresh fish fillets from a fishmonger and have a lovely meal, but the fish frame from which the fillets came, cannot be accepted for compost as it contains PFAS levels 16 times higher than state compost standards allow. 

One must question why those same regulators are classifying PFAS contamination in parts per billion for composts when the current threshold levels of Arsenic in the Australian Standard for Compost (AS4454) is set at 20 parts per million. 

Other examples present where surface water held on some industry assets cannot be discharged to local waterways as it contains levels of PFAS that are below drinking water standards, but the regulator refuses to consider science. 

This creates genuine conflict to a business operating environment. In another state, our industry is faced with the prospect of a private members bill being introduced that bans licensed landfill facilities from receiving and disposing of PFAS contaminated substances within 50 kilometres of land used for the business of primary production: or within a township or five kilometres from the boundaries of a township. That decision, if legislated, will mean the only disposal option for wastes of this type is in the centre of Australia. The cost to business, the community, and existing investments immeasurable.

With respect to the recently introduced federal export waste bans, business owners already see evidence in the failure by federal regulators to enforce their own rules. Evidence exists where rorting of the reporting system is occurring and waste is being exported against the guidelines under different classifications, yet regulators with evidence presented still fail to act against those responsible.

The announcement by the Albanese Government to commit to establishing a federal Environment Protection Agency during its current term is welcomed, but simply replacing a broken regulatory model with a new agency won’t change a thing unless wholesale change occurs.

 NWRIC watches with interest to see if the newly elected federal government’s walk actually matches its talk. 

Tags: NWRICrecycling
Premium Ad
2

$682,000

2021 POWERSCREEN POWERSCREEN MAXTRAK 1000 CONE CRUSHER

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Cone
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Narangba, QLD

07 3073 8183
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
12

$699,000

2019 KLEEMANN MR130Z EV02

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Impactor
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Cranbourne North, VIC

0485 931 103
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
5

$935,000

2018 POWERSCREEN 1300 MAXTRAK CONE CRUSHER

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Cone
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Narangba, QLD

07 3073 8183
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
20

$616,000

2023 TEREX FINLAY J960A JAW CRUSHER

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Jaw Crusher
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Burpengary, QLD

Location marker The shape of a location marker

Delivery ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS & VIC

07 3106 7395
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
1

$1,390

METSO 1213 IMPACTOR BLOWBARS - CHROME

  • » Listing Type: New
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Port Adelaide, SA

08 7099 2506
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
21

$499,000

2017 METSO LOKOTRACK® LT1213S MOBILE CRUSHER AND SCREEN

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Impactor
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Cranbourne North, VIC

0485 931 103
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
2

$8,400

2024 DYNAMIC OVERBAND MAGNET - NEW

  • » Listing Type: New
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Magnets
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Port Adelaide, SA

08 7099 2506
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
4
Private Advertiser

$33,000

CUSTOM CUSTOM

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Screener
  • » Class: Screenboxes
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Peak Crossing, QLD

**** *** 571
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
9
Private Advertiser

$200,000

2021 BARFORD T516 TRACKED TROMMEL

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Screener
  • » Class: Trommel Screens
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Nymagee, NSW

**** *** 902
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
3

$280,000

2020 MCCLOSKEY S130

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Screener
  • » Class: Double Deck
  • » Application: Mobile
  • » Capacity - tonnes/h: up to 500tph
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Wacol, QLD

07 3073 8201
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
2

$335,000

2020 MCCLOSKEY S190

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Screener
  • » Class: Double Deck
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Wacol, QLD

07 3073 8201
MORE DETAILS
Premium Ad
4

$891,000

MCCLOSKEY J50V2

  • » Listing Type: Used
  • » Category: Crusher
  • » Class: Jaw Crusher
  • » Application: Mobile
Location marker The shape of a location marker

Oldbury, WA

08 6500 0902
MORE DETAILS

Related Posts

Ken Ross, ResourceCo Head of Corporate Affairs and Marketing, with Alistair McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, Shell V-Power Motorsport Park. Images: Tyrecycle

Tyrecycle trials on-track recycling for motorsport tyres

by Jennifer Pittorino
July 17, 2025

A Tyrecycle pilot program could be a pit stop to sustainability for Australian motorsport. The high-performance demands of car racing...

Eldan Light Fraction Sorter

Eldan, Light Fraction Sorter (LFS): Air-Powered Precision for Efficient Recycling

by Jennifer Pittorino
July 16, 2025

The Eldan Light Fraction Sorter is a high-efficiency air-based system designed to separate mixed materials into light and heavy fractions,...

Blue Phoenix Kwinana

Kwinana builds Australia’s first IBAA car park

by Jennifer Pittorino
July 16, 2025

Kwinana Energy Recovery paves the way with recycled materials – in its own backyard. Kwinana Energy Recovery is demonstrating a...

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Waste Management Review is the specialist magazine for the waste, recycling and resource recovery sectors in Australia.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Waste Management Review

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • List Your Equipment Today
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Collection Notice

Popular Topics

  • News
  • Features
  • Waste Management In Action
  • Product Spotlight
  • Profiles
  • Up Front
  • Last Word
  • Events

Our TraderAds Network

  • Arbor Age
  • Australian Car Mechanic
  • Australian Mining
  • Australian Resources & Investment
  • Big Rigs
  • Bulk Handling Review
  • Bus News
  • Cranes & Lifting
  • Earthmoving Equipment Magazine
  • EcoGeneration
  • Energy Today
  • Food & Beverage
  • Fully Loaded
  • Global Trailer
  • Inside Construction
  • Inside Waste
  • Inside Water
  • Landscape Contractor Magazine
  • Manufacturers' Monthly
  • MHD Supply Chain
  • National Collision Repairer
  • OwnerDriver
  • Power Torque
  • Prime Mover Magazine
  • Quarry
  • Roads Online
  • Rail Express
  • Safe To Work
  • The Australian Pipeliner
  • Trade Earthmovers
  • Trade Farm Machinery
  • Trade Plant Equipment
  • Trade Trucks
  • Trade Unique Cars
  • Tradie Magazine
  • Trailer Magazine
  • Trenchless Australasia
  • Waste Management Review

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
MARKETPLACE
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Features
    • Cover Story
    • Up Front
    • Waste Management In Action
    • Council in Focus
    • Rules and Regulations
    • International
    • Product Spotlight
    • Last Word
    • Profile
    • Events
    • Sustainability in Business
  • Events
  • White Paper
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
  • Awards
    • WIRA
    • WII
    • Foundation Awards
  • Marketplace
  • List Your Equipment Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited