Feds can’t drop ball on waste issue

Now the election is over, we need a nationally led approach to accelerating a circular economy, writes Pam Allen

NOW the Federal election campaign is over it is useful to consider what approach the Albanese government will take to accelerating a circular economy.

Circular economy and waste resource and recovery did not dominate the campaign. But industry groups and many individuals want to lift federal government performance on this issue. They drew up wish lists for future government action. Happily there was some bipartisanship on the circular economy across the political spectrum.

Overall Scott Morrison elevated the waste issue during his time as leader. He was comfortable talking about recycling and plastic waste and was generous with federal grant funding to the states to fund pilot projects. He appointed the first ever federal minister for waste management — a far cry from the inertia of previous federal leaders who have been content for state and local government and the private sector to do the heavy lifting on waste management, recycling, resource recovery, product stewardship and sustainable product design.

Bass MP Bridget Archer promised more recycling as a way of delivering a cleaner environment to voters. Her Labor opponent Ross Hart promised $6m to Waverley Woollen Mills to transform the mill into a state-of-theart facility for sustainable wool recycling. It will be interesting to see if this promise is honoured.

Covid has made us acutely aware of supply chain disruptions and over reliance on overseas imports. Not surprisingly many federal candidates talked about growing local manufacturing opportunities to ensure these problems don’t reoccur. Labor embedded circular economy initiatives in its promise for a National Reconstruction Fund. The Greens believe a circular economy will create jobs and clean up Australia.

Meanwhile industry supports a national crossportfolio circular economy strategy which delivers economies of scale, uniform product standards and clear and consistent information to households and businesses beyond the waste sector. They are concerned about competing priorities and the differing pace of circular economy implementation by state governments.

Australia’s major waste industry lobby group (WMRR) asked major parties to commit to five policy priorities in their sector: carbon abatement, mandated extended producer responsibility, whole of government circular economic planning, sustainable design and sustainable procurement. They also called for $200m annually over the next five years to develop infrastructure for reprocessing recyclables on shore and to create Remade in Australia products with all the job and market opportunities which will develop with local manufacturing.

All major parties have a commitment to growing a circular economy. The differences lie in future direction to industry from government. The Coalition has invested directly in waste resource recovery but has refused to mandate compulsory targets for cutting waste streams on the increase (such as plastic packaging). Commentator Pete Shmigel predicts Labor will strengthen the Coalition’s initiatives in the circular economy sector by introducing compulsion into the mix – mandatory measures for design, labelling, tenders and product stewardship.

Every state government in Australia has included circular economy commitment and principles into their waste minimisation policies. Many local councils have endorsed and activated circular economy precepts. It saves them money because they utilise available second life resources. Tasmania was an early adopter of the concept. The Tasmanian Parliament has recently committed to the preparation of a waste strategy which will be underpinned by circular economy principles. What is needed now is national leadership which brings together these state and local policies and works with industry and the community to tighten the targets for reducing problem wastes such as plastics, packaging, e waste, tyres and construction and demolition materials and continues to fund opportunities for the effective reuse of these resources.