ALGA, in collaboration with state and territory local government associations, has been advocating to the Commonwealth on waste and recycling policies and reforms to benefit local government.
Key reforms include:
- Updating the Action Plan for the National Waste Policy,
- Options for reforming packaging regulation,
- Developing a National Kerbside Harmonisation Roadmap (including consulting on a ‘pathway’ for collection of soft plastics),
- An inquiry on the opportunities in circular economy and developing a National Circular Economy Framework.
The Commonwealth has also begun a review of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, which ALGA will contribute to in the coming months.
Funding for resource management
ALGA continues to highlight while local governments are enthusiastic partners in resource management, changes and new policies must not result in cost, responsibility and risk shifting to local governments.
Many councils are under pressure to find answers to soft plastics pollution, and ALGA supports the Government’s proposed extended producer responsibility scheme. This is an effective and efficient way of reducing and reclaiming packaging material by incentivising its reuse and recycling by companies responsible for producing it.
ALGA also highlighted to the Federal Government there should be greater consideration for how fees collected through such a scheme can support collection services that local governments provide, thereby rebalancing the cost burden for waste off local governments.
In a recent submission, ALGA advocated that the Commonwealth should implement these reforms fully as the primary mechanism to address soft plastic waste, rather than simultaneously considering if other forms of collection are required.
Local governments leading the way
ALGA has been showcasing the important work councils are doing to lead place-based innovation in service provision and new technologies, community engagement, and investments to improve our waste and resource recovery nationwide.
ALGA outlined in a submission the diversity of approaches and leadership role that local governments have adopted to enable circular behaviours in their communities, reduce their emissions, and create economic opportunities with environmental protection at the centre.
Our organisation will continue to provide input and feedback to the Productivity Commission as it progresses its Inquiry next year.
Waste priorities for 2025
ALGA continues to advocate for a more strategic national approach which prioritises and addresses the most challenging and damaging waste streams that local governments are managing nationally. For example, lithium-ion batteries, e-waste, mattresses, textiles, and emerging contaminants like PFAS are some of the priority materials that require national policy attention urgently.
Similarly, there is a need to establish end-of-life tyre regulations so that local governments, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas, do not continue to be burdened with the cost of their retrieval and environmental pollution.
Useful Resources:
- Communique from Environment Ministers Meeting of June 2024
- DCCEEW’s Product Stewardship Schemes and Priorities