Friday 15 March 2024
WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY INDUSTRY RELEASES
TASMANIAN ELECTION PRIORITY ACTION LIST
The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) today urged all political parties and candidates in the Tasmanian election campaign to commit to purposeful market action and deliver targeted strategic investment if the state is to achieve its carbon mitigation targets and 2030 resource recovery goals.
“Tasmania has always prided itself on preserving its stunning environment – and there is no reason it should not lead the nation on the transition to a circular economy by valuing its biodiversity and reducing reliance on virgin materials,” WMRR Chief Executive Gayle Sloan said today.
“Sadly, that is not the case currently with Tasmania’s resource recovery rate standing at just 51% - below the national average at 63% - and ahead of only Queensland and the Northern Territory. Since its establishment in 2022, the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board has overseen steps in the right direction, but more needs to be done,” she said.
“It is imperative the successful government demonstrates real leadership in transitioning to a circular economy, by driving policy and market settings that boost investment and growth in Tasmania, as well as enabling a level playing field and creating new green Tasmanian jobs. This really is a win-win.”
WMRR is advocating five (5) policy priorities which we urge all political parties and candidates to adopt. They are:
• Finalise as a matter of priority, the implementation of the Container Deposit Scheme and elimination of single-use plastics;
• Support the continued implementation of the landfill levy, provide industry certainty post 2026, and ensure there are correct market settings to divert material from landfill, increase resource recovery and mitigate carbon impacts- creating new Tasmanian jobs;
• Increase the delivery of necessary WARR infrastructure, with a focus on state-based processing, reuse and re-manufacturing to facilitate local markets for the use of recovered materials in Tasmania, including sustainable government procurement;
• Commit to review WARR regulatory settings including generator accountability and resource recovery framework to assist with delivering a circular economy in Tasmania; and
• Strive for state-wide standardisation of services and implement a harmonised state-wide waste avoidance and education campaigns to drive behavioural change across both the community and business.
“The implementation of these policy positions will provide enhanced environmental outcomes for the state and additional employment in the waste, resource recovery, and remanufacturing sectors in Tasmania,” Ms Sloan said.