The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) has welcomed today’s Queensland Government announcement committing to deliver a Statewide Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Plan, describing it as an important step in addressing long-standing gaps in infrastructure planning and investment certainty in Queensland.
WMRR CEO Gayle Sloan said the announcement by the Environment Minister, the Hon Andrew Powell MP, signals positive intent but must be backed by a clear, consistent investment framework that recognises waste and material flows across regions.
“The waste and resource recovery sector has been calling for greater coordination, improved data, and long-term infrastructure planning in Queensland for many years. A statewide roadmap is a critical piece of that puzzle,” Ms Sloan said.
“With municipal solid waste recovery still too low in Queensland at just 28.2%, we must drive more material out of landfill and into productive use. That requires higher levy settings that are fit-for-purpose and strong incentives to support reuse and recycling of the materials we collect.”
“Energy-from-Waste (EfW) is a necessary and responsible solution for managing residual waste — particularly where materials cannot be safely or economically recycled. Without a coordinated, statewide approach to residual waste, Queensland risks the same pressures seen in other jurisdictions where capacity has not kept pace with demand.”
WMRR also highlighted the importance of building strong end markets through government leadership, calling for enforceable mandatory sustainable procurement requirements.
WMRR looks forward to the release of the updated Queensland Waste Strategy, which must include key targets and economic settings to ensure the roadmap delivers a clear investment pathway and real outcomes.