NWRIC State Associations update: November

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).

QUEENSLAND – WRIQ

Labor returned for a third term

The Queensland election outcome has awarded the Palaszczuk Government a third term. Upon announcement of the new cabinet, WRIQ will engage with key MPs on the priorities outlined in its Election Manifesto 2020, and is keen to ensure the government follows through on commitments outlined to WRIQ prior to the election outcome.

You can view a copy of the parties election commitments and formal correspondence to WRIQ here.

WRIQ Members to meet with Minister

With National Recycling Week coming up next week, WRIQ members are invited to a special networking event with Federal Assistant Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Minister Trevor Evans.

The event will be held 12 November from 3.30-5.00 pm. WRIQ members are invited to register their interest to the event by emailing the WRIQ office memberservies@wriq.com.au. Numbers are limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.

NSW – WCRA

Waste Management award changes

The Fair Commission has released a copy of the updated Waste Management Award 2020, with new wage and allowance rates effective from the first full pay period after 1 November 2020.

The monetary rates in this Award have increased by 1.75 per cent. The Award covers employers throughout Australia in the waste management industry and their employees.

A copy of this Award is available from the Fair Work Commission’s website.

For any advice and/or clarification please contact the Waste Contractors & Recyclers Association of NSW on 02 9604 7206 or email memberservices@wcra.com.au.

VICTORIA – VVWMA

Victorian Government CDS to deliver jobs and recycling

The VWMA has welcomed the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) announced by Minister D’Ambrosio that will increase recycling, reduce litter and deliver jobs for Victorians.

Victorians are being asked to provide feedback on the proposed model for the CDS, which will be rolled out by 2023 and create hundreds of jobs across the state.

The CDS is a ‘cash for cans’ system where empty cans, small bottles and cartons can be dropped off at collection points for a refund.

The CDS will assist Victoria to meet stricter export standards imposed on contamination in recycling by China and several other of our Asian trading partners.

Without a CDS to better sort our recycling, Victorians will not be able to keep improving our recycling rates and respect our trading partners.

Importantly, the CDS design proposed by the Victorian Government examines Australia’s existing container deposit programs and improves on them with a nationally leading design.

“Cash for cans and bottles provides a great incentive to do the right thing and dispose of litter correctly for the sake of our environment and the benefit of all Victorians,” Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said.

VWMA CEO Peter Anderson said that the waste recycling industry welcomes the opportunity to work closely with the Victorian Government to build this new recycling program.

“Drink cans and bottles make up almost half of all the litter in Victoria,” Anderson said.

“A CDS would significantly reduce this litter and help ensure a clean stream of recyclable materials can be re-used in new products instead of going to landfill or polluting the environment and harming our wildlife.

“Further, the waste recycling industry welcomes the opportunity to create a diverse range of collection points, including reverse vending machines, drive through depots, over the counter in shops and pop up collection points at events and festivals.”

The CDS design includes a separate scheme co-ordinator and network operator, ensuring transparency and accountability.

The introduction of a CDS is part of the state government’s $300 million Recycling Victoria program introducing a new approach to reduce, reuse and recycle our state’s waste.

The VWMA is working closely with Government to deliver this future thinking program.

NATIONAL

Manufacturing and COVID-19 on NWRIC meeting agenda

The NWRIC met on 29 October to discuss the current and future impacts of COVID-19 on businesses and the industry, and was briefed on the Modern Manufacturing Strategy (MMS) and $1.5 billion initiative announced in the federal budget earlier this month, where recycling has been listed as one of the six manufacturing priority areas.

A representative from the Roadmap Programs division within the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources outlined the key aspects of the MMS, including the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, round two of the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund and the Roadmaps to Recovery and Beyond.

NWRIC CEO Rose Read said having recycling listed as one of the six manufacturing priorities recognises the potential economic and employment growth opportunities the recycling and waste management sector can deliver.

“The NWRIC is looking forward to working with the Department to develop the Roadmap for increasing the demand for recycled and sustainably produced goods as well as providing materials for manufacture and remanufacture,” Read said.

“The waste and recycling sector contributes $4.8 billion directly to the Australian economy each year with employment growing by 13 per cent over the past five years since June 2019, outperforming total jobs growth in the economy by ten percentage points for the same period.

“There is real potential to grow the recycling and energy recovery sector as we ramp up our processing capacity.

“The Commonwealth is making the waste and recycling industry a real priority, and the Strategy will stimulate the investment required for industry to scale up.”

This article is the sixth in an ongoing monthly series.

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