Friday 21 June 2024

WMRR CALLS FOR A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION FROM ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS

The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) welcomed the announcement following the Environment Ministers Meeting (EMM) today that Victoria would lead the development of stronger end markets for recycled products given its proven ability with ecologiQ.

“This work is crucial to growing green jobs, increasing domestic remanufacturing production, and moving towards a circular economy,” WMRR Chief Executive Officer Gayle Sloan said today.   

“We also welcome the emphasis placed on batteries and the commitment to a draft Regulatory Impact Statement ahead of a full product stewardship scheme, which will be driven by the Eastern states,” she said. 

“However, words and reports due back for the next EMM meeting in December does not address the current battery fire crisis happening now in our essential sector.

“The waste and resource recovery (WARR) industry is completely united in the need for action and investment now to provide safe alternative disposal for these hazardous and dangerous items. It is deeply disappointing that beyond noting battery fires are escalating, there is no proposed solution.” 

The EMM on 9 June 2023 stated: ‘for the first time, Australia will mandate obligations for packaging design as part of a new packaging regulatory scheme based on international best practice and make industry responsible for the packaging they place on the market. This scheme will also regulate out harmful chemicals and other contaminants in packaging.’  

Yet here we are 12 months later, and this work is still not available. 

“Ministers talked today of frustration at resuming instore collection for soft plastics and harmonising kerbside collection. However, we cannot fix the collection end of packaging unless we fix the start - and that includes what is placed on market in the first place,” she said.

“Soft plastics is like no other product. We need to get all parts of the system right including the material selection, the design for reuse and repair, and the increased use of recyclate in manufacturing and only then will we have a market and collection system that works effectively. In the absence of the design piece, we cannot solve the collection piece.

“Anything short of an entire supply chain solution is just tinkering at the edges and merely deferring the difficult but necessary decisions. 

“Ministers can only kick decisions down the road (map) for so long before they run out of road – 2030 and Australia’s resource recovery and carbon targets are fast approaching.

“Let’s hope the National Circular Economy Framework really does address the system and provide real action, because the current approach appears to simply result in discussion, delay and deferral at a time when both the planet and the people in the WARR industry are looking for genuine leadership and decisions from those lucky enough to have been appointed custodians of Australia’s environment,” Ms Sloan said.