WMRR welcomes Tasmania keeping our essential industry on the agenda

29 April 2021

The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia has welcomed the Tasmanian Liberals’ environment policy, saying the party’s renewed commitment to its waste and resource recovery priorities bodes well for Tasmanian industry, community and environment.

Ahead of this weekend’s state election, Minister for Environment and Parks, Roger Jaensch, announced that if re-elected, a Liberal government would invest $4.5 million to improve and increase Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO), pave the way for the use of crumbed rubber from end-of-life tyres in state road surfaces, and provide $1 million to a single-use plastics phase-out, to name a few. The Minister also reaffirmed his commitment to roll out a container refund scheme in 2022, introduce a state-wide waste levy this year, and provide $5.5 million in Recycling Modernisation Fund grants to build Tasmania’s plastic reprocessing capacity.

“The Minister is to be congratulated for keeping our essential waste and resource recovery sector on the agenda. It is evident that he has his eye on the prize, that being to protect Tasmania’s environment and community while at the same time growing the economy by committing to, and funding circular initiatives,” WMRR CEO, Ms Gayle Sloan, said.

“In addition to reaffirming the commitments made over the last 18 months such as implementing a levy and a Container Deposit Scheme for Tasmania, the Minister has also announced new money to ensure that the objectives of the party’s environmental policy are met. Importantly, the Minister has charged a Liberal government to lead by example and committed money through green state procurement policies, stimulating the local remanufacturing industry.

“These commitments should excite Tasmanians as it spells growth and investment in local economies which in turn will boost local jobs. We look forward to working with the elected government as Tasmania transitions from being a green state to a truly circular one,” Ms Sloan said.