As we wrap up 2024 and after what seems like months of false starts and a general lack of action to move towards our often cited Net Zero and Resource Recovery targets, it was definitely pleasing to end 2024 with a little bit of good news – the reported increase in the national recovery rate of 3% (about 2 million tonnes) in the latest National Waste and Resource Recovery Report. Acknowledging that the hard work of so many in our essential industry is at least paying off, with target areas such as organics increasing by 1.4% demonstrating that with policy, markets and targeted funding, there can be change. And whilst the total amount of waste generated increased by about 1 million tonnes, there was a slight decrease per capita – another (small) positive.
However, I think we all know that despite this good news, it is nowhere near enough of a shift to put Australia on the necessary sustainable path required to hit the national 2030 targets.
In December 2024 we watched the Environment Minister’s Meeting pass us by without even a whimper, if not for the NSW Environment Minister’s commitment to act on batteries, we would wonder what the meeting discussed. Whilst I appreciate that an updated National Waste Action Plan (note the word ‘action’ but the lack of actions within) and a Circular Economy Framework were adopted (Framework but no action in this one either), their lack of enforceable actions (let alone penalties) to achieve the 2030 targets or apparent desire to achieve these was bitterly disappointing.
These documents did however quietly move some of these targets. For example, we lost the target date for eliminating problematic plastics and moved out the target for ‘creating a circular economy’. When you look at the data in the National Waste and Resource Recovery Report and see that the recovery rate of plastics is now at 12.5% (a decrease of 0.4%) yet the amount of plastic waste generated has increased by 14.5% (11.6% per capita) – you can possibly understand politically why these changes occurred. But given the desire for a High Ambition for Plastics globally, why can’t we have the same ambition at home?
One area that desperately required attention, given it is at the forefront of every household’s thinking and behaviour and the material most impacted by the export restrictions is packaging. This is the one area that is wholly (in theory) in the Federal government’s area of responsibility with the Used Packaging NEPM. However, we enter 2025 with APCO publicly stating that yet again it will be missing its targets (no problems as no consequences for that). However, we currently have no proposed reformed scheme or even worse – no adopted mandatory design guidelines that will stimulate demand for local recycled materials on shore. Albeit it remains a “priority” (but unlikely to be addressed before the Federal election I suspect).
After all the talk of being ‘prepared to regulate’, we are heading towards the end of this term of government with none in sight, and very unlikely to have any prepared by the time a federal election is called. The one bright spot to possibly bookend the year with is the proposed review of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 which is slated to occur in early 2025. This if used well must assist Australia in transitioning to a legislated future circular economy regulating the environmental performance of materials and products including imports, implementing clear design rules and labelling. It was also great to see the report of the Circular Economy Ministerial Advisory Group recommend this legislative approach and lay out what that could look like in their “Circular Advantage” report released this week, highlighting that we can have the tools to do this – we just need the political will.
Let’s hope 2025 is finally then the year of action that we all know we need.
The WMRR team wants to thank you all for your support and all the knowledge and time you have dedicated to us in 2024. Without you all we cannot do what we do to represent you! We hope that you have a great Christmas and New Year with those that are important to you. We look forward to working with you all in 2025, as its going to be another big year for our essential industry.