Have your say- National Material Specifications for Sorting and Processing Facilities Project
This week the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) held two project briefing and Q&A webinars on the National Material Specifications for Sorting and Processing Facilities Project.
The National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC), with the assistance of MRA Consulting, has been funded by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) to develop national performance standards for recycling facilities (including sorting, primary and secondary processors).
Specifications for plastics, paper, glass, metals, and organics coming through the municipal solid waste collection stream will be developed in consultation with end users (e.g. manufacturers, construction, farmers) and the recycling sector (sorters and processors).
There is still time to review the webinar presentation and have your say on the project by completing the online survey.
To participate, please review the webinar presentation, material specifications and project brief before completing the online survey.
NSW Parliamentary Committee report on inquiry into Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Plastics Reduction) Bill 2021 released
NSW Parliament's Planning and Environment Committee has released its report following its inquiry into the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Amendment (Plastics Reduction) Bill 2021.
The Bill aimed to phase out single-use plastics and other plastic products that are harmful to the environment as well as proposing to set targets for plastic reduction with a view to eliminating plastic pollution.
The report notes that with the NSW Government's release of the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy and the NSW Plastics Action Plan, the Government will introduce its own legislation to phase out certain single-use plastics and recommends this Bill not proceed.
The report does, however, highlight the number of stakeholders who support the reduction in plastics.
National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) CEO Rose Read welcomed the release of the report and noted that on behalf of NWRIC she had presented to the Committee.
"NWRIC supported the Bill and its intent in banning single-use and problematic plastics, however we raised the issue that there needs to be consistency across the states and territories to make it easier for manufacturers and players in the supply chain to participate.
"When the NSW Government released its Plastics Action Plan we welcomed the focus on phasing out problematic single-use plastics by 2025 as well as the target of 30% plastic litter reduction by 2025, and the goal to triple the plastics recycling rate by 2030.
"This focus on plastics is long overdue," said Ms Read.
Ms Read reiterated NWRIC's position of support for mandatory product stewardship schemes as the most effective way of identifying, and making responsible, those manufacturers, retailers and companies putting these plastics on the market.
"It is these organisations that have the capacity to implement changes in design, as well as the systems to collect and recover these products so that they can be recycled."
The report, which is with the government for consideration, is available along with submissions, transcripts of evidence and other inquiry documents.
NWRIC CEO to deliver keynote at Waste Expo Australia
National Waste and Recycling Industry Council (NWRIC) CEO Rose Read will deliver the keynote address on day two of Waste Expo Australia being held in Melbourne in October.
Ms Read said she was looking forward to presenting on 'Getting to 80% Resource Recovery Rate by 2030'.
"In my address I will be looking at whether the policy, regulatory and financial settings are right to drive the systemic changes needed to reach 80% Resource Recovery by 2030," Ms Read said.
Waste Expo Australia is being held from 27-28 October at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
