WMRR calls for all parties to commit to circular economy and net zero targets

The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) is calling on all parties in the upcoming Federal Election to prioritise key actions that will help Australia meet both its climate goals and resource recovery targets.

Australia’s current recovery rate stands at only 67 per cent, below the 80 per cent target set for 2030, with a material circularity rate of just four per cent, compared to the global average of 7.2 per cent, according to Gayle Sloan, Chief Executive Officer of WMRR, a national peak body for the waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry.

“These targets are critical – not aspirational – for creating the sustainable economy and environment Australians want and deserve,” Sloan said.

She said fundamental to Australia’s overall success in achieving these targets is secondary raw materials becoming as competitive and valued as virgin materials in Australia.

With just five years left to meet these targets, WMRR believes that Australia must take urgent action in three key areas: Investment, regulation, and markets.

WMRR is calling on the incoming Federal Government to commit $500 million in new funding to the Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) and expand the fund to include additional priority waste streams, specifically organics and hazardous waste — helping to create new markets for recovered materials and driving investment in onshore remanufacturing.

“Industry saw first-hand the significant impact that the RMF had on our essential industry, stimulating matched funding from private industry and state government across 139 projects nationally – resulting in new jobs across all of Australia,” Sloan said.

“Continuing the RMF will also develop Australia’s resilience through less reliance on global supply chains and grow local manufacturing.”

“We also know now that business as usual just will not cut it — we need strong and certain regulation that provides the entire supply chain with a level playing field.”

WMRR is calling for the introduction of a Circular Economy Act that requires sustainable eco-design of products and establishes clear, enforceable environmental standards for products entering the market. Sloan said this should include mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations, requiring the use of recycled materials and ensuring that products are designed for reuse, recycling, and modularity.

“The final critical element in achieving Australia’s resource recovery goals is ensuring there are viable local markets for recycled materials and products. Ten million tonnes of material diverted from landfill needs ten million tonnes of market demand for recovered material!

“WMRR urges a national campaign on the benefits of using recycled materials over virgin materials, alongside initiatives to promote waste avoidance.”

Sloan said Australia’s net zero emissions target by 2050 is directly linked to the success of a circular economy. Material handling and use account for about 70 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to a circular economy, where resources are used multiple times, will reduce emissions and mitigate climate change impacts while creating new, green jobs across the entire country.

“WMRR urges our incoming government to recognise this crucial link between achieving Australia’s economic and climate change goals and commit to prioritising investment, regulation, and markets for the WARR industry as a matter of urgency as we head towards 2030.”