National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) State Affiliates provide a detailed overview of industry and policy changes across the country.
NWRIC is the national industry body for commercial waste and recycling operators Australia wide.
It brings together national businesses and affiliated state associations to develop and promote policies and actions to advance waste management and resource recovery in Australia – ensuring a fair, safe and sustainable industry that serves all Australians.
NWRIC state affiliates include the Waste Recycling Industry Queensland (WRIQ), the Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW & ACT (WCRA), the Victorian Waste Management Association (VWMA), the Waste Recycling Industry of South Australia (WRISA), the Waste Recycling Industry of Western Australia (WRIWA) and the Waste Recycling Industry Northern Territory (WRINT).
WCRA – NSW
NSW EPA Resource Recovery Framework – Review & Revocation Impacts
The NSW EPA recently announced that Dr Cathy Wilkinson will be reviewing the NSW Resource Recovery Framework. WCRA supports this systematic review, and we look forward to working with the EPA and Dr Wilkinson to achieve better resource recovery outcomes, including the certainty that industry requires if it is to invest in waste diversion solutions.
The very clearly stated objective of the NSW Government is to establish a circular economy, yet the focus seems to be on RRO’s and facility license conditions that just don’t reflect reality and are not in alignment with this objective. In fact, it could be easily argued that they undermine the objective.
If we are to achieve better resource recovery outcomes, then there’s a strong argument in support of suitable legislative and regulatory reforms. To this extent, WCRA welcomes the NSW EPA’s announcement from 5th November 2021 that it has commissioned an independent review of its Resource Recovery Framework.
Considering this announcement, EPA’s intention to revoke the Orders for recovered fines makes no sense at this point in time. To put this matter into perspective, a successful FOGO rollout will deliver a positive resource recovery outcome of 400,000 tonnes pa.
A revocation of this Order will result in the annual landfilling of an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of recovered fines. The NSW C&D recovery rate will fall from 76% to 66%. The cost of waste management on a new 2 storey home will increase by $2,500 and an estimated 500 jobs will be lost.
WCRA’s view is that this Order should be improved and not be revoked, particularly whilst an independent review of the NSW framework is being undertaken.
WRIQ – Queensland
Food waste for health soils grant applications deadline 5 Dec
Queensland organisations working in or interested in organics should consider their eligibility for the Food Waste For Health Soils grants now open. Unfortunately, the Queensland Government has only provided organisations a few days to apply. Grants were announced on 29 Nov and close of 5 Dec. WRIQ members wanting any assistance around this grant program should reach out to memberservices@wriq.com.au
WRIQ report on waste levy investment now available
WRIQ has been out promoting their report into Waste Levy and Grant administration. Queensland is currently tracking as one of the worst performing states when it comes to waste and recycling headline metrics. WRIQ’s report can be accessed here (https://wriq.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Waste_Levy_Conundrum_Final.pdf).
The findings of the report have also been covered by several media outlets including ABC Digital (Sunday 21 Nov) Recycling industry rubbishes Queensland’s waste levy, saying targets will not be met – ABC News, WMR Queensland waste levy under microscope – Waste Management Review,, ABC TV (7pm Sunday 21 Nov) https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NU2136Q047S00
at 17.45 min mark, ABC Mornings, Rebecca Livingstone (Fri 19 Nov) Part 1 (very link hyperlink)
Part 2: http://my.tvey.es/a7C3X,
AGM / Christmas lunch Friday 3 Dec
Reminder WRIQ’s AGM and Christmas lunch is on this Friday. For more information visit: WRIQ 2021 AGM and Christmas Lunch, South Brisbane, 3rd of December | Humanitix or email memberservices@wriq.com.au