Waste industry bodies have welcomed the progress made at yesterday’s meeting of Australia’s Environment Ministers which included the broad agreement on a national circular economy framework.
The meeting, chaired by the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek, also agreed in principle to the National Kerbside Collections Roadmap, with the exception of Queensland’s minister.
Australia’s recycling industry is a major contributor to the economy, generating $19 billion annually and supporting nearly 95,000 jobs.
Following the meeting, the Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) urged the commonwealth and all state and territory governments to work together to accelerate action on critical priorities essential for building a sustainable and resilient recycling system and supporting a circular economy in Australia.
Suzanne Toumbourou, Chief Executive Officer, ACOR said the challenges facing the nation require bold, co-ordinated action across Australia’s governments.
“Our immediate priorities are to address the risks posed by battery-related fires to protect lives and infrastructure, and to support domestic markets for recycled materials to ensure our sector’s long-term viability,” said Toumbourou.
“The recycling industry delivers significant economic and environmental benefits and is a key driver of jobs and growth.
“We urge all commonwealth, state, and territory governments to take decisive action to secure these benefits and ensure the sustainable future of the recycling sector.”
With more than 10,000 battery-related fires a year across Australia’s waste and recycling systems, ACOR is urging:
- An immediate rollout of accessible, safe collection systems for batteries and consumer electronics.
- A national education campaign.
- Mandatory, nationally harmonised extended producer responsibility regulation for all small electrical and electronic equipment.
The need for additional and continued Container Deposit Schemes (CDS), government procurement, packaging reform and the stewardship of batteries were the main outcomes highlighted in the circular economy framework.
The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) also welcomed the adoption of a strengthened National Waste Action Plan and discussion about the need for urgent reform to product stewardship of batteries to address the escalating risk of fires.
Gayle Sloan, Chief Executive Officer, WMRR said daily battery fires occurring at collection facilities and vehicles is putting workers and infrastructure at risk.
“The waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry has been crying out for a separate safe disposal pathway to get them out of kerbside bins, trucks and facilities that are not designed to collect these potentially incendiary devices,” said Sloan.
“We are encouraged that Penny Sharpe, New South Wales Environment Minister, has committed to state-led reforms for mandatory stewardship with legislation in 2025, as we cannot continue as is with the rate of fires.”
However, Sloan lamented a lack of action on a nationwide mandatory packaging product stewardship scheme.
“If those that make products are not regulated to be genuinely accountable for designing and managing products throughout their lifecycle, we can talk about circularity endlessly, but we will never create a circular economy, increase our plastic recycling rate above 20 per cent, or reach our 2030 resource recovery and carbon mitigation targets,” she said.
Related stories:
National Kerbside Collections Roadmap a step closer
VWMA calls for government action on lithium-ion battery fires
Waste and recycling industries unite for urgent action on battery fires
