Moves to ban plastic waste

PLASTIC packaging on fresh food, groceries and a range of other items will be banned within seven years under a bold new move in response to the new China ban on recyclables.

All throwaway packaging will be recyclable under an ambitious target agreed to by state and federal environment ministers.

The move is in response to the crisis caused by the imposition of import restrictions that exclude nearly all recyclables that Australia previously sold to China.

Under the plan, ministers have agreed to make 100 per cent of Australian packaging recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 or earlier to cut down on the amount of waste the country produces.

The target will be delivered by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, working with its 950 member companies.

Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg said the Commonwealth would work with state and territory governments to look at opportunities to further develop the recycling industry to process the 4 per cent of recyclable waste that would have previously gone to China.

“To increase demand for recyclable waste, ministers agreed to advocate, where ap- propriate, to increase the recyclable materials in goods purchased by governments, such as paper, road base and construction materials,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“Following the success of television, computer, tyre and oil product stewardship schemes, ministers also agreed to fast- track the development of new product stewardship schemes for photovoltaic solar panels and batteries.

“Solving for the 1.3 million tonnes of recyclable waste is an urgent and important issue which requires a co- ordinated approach from supply right through to demand. It is also an opportunity for Australia to develop its capabilities and capacity in recycling.”

Australia was one of the more than 100 countries affected by China’s ban, affecting around 1.3 million tonnes of the country’s recyclable waste.