The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has called on the next Federal Government to provide a $100 million per year fund for circular economy waste innovation projects.
With just weeks until the Federal Election, local government organisations around the country have signalled the need for greater funding to assist councils in reducing waste sent to landfill, increasing resource recovery and transitioning to a circular economy.
The ALGA said that, working with the Federal Government, councils could reduce the 20 million tonnes of rubbish sent to Australian landfills each year and create new jobs across the country.
ALGA President, Linda Scott, said Australia faces a looming waste and recycling crisis without immediate and sustained investment from all three tiers of government.
“We are running out of accessible landfills, and waste and recycling costs for all Australians continue to rise,” Cr Scott said.
“By mid-2024, when Australia’s waste export ban comes into full effect, 645,000 additional tonnes of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres will need to be processed and recycled locally every year.
“We must continue our transition to a circular economy by finding new opportunities to re-use our rubbish and turn it into valuable resources and products.
“Councils are calling on the next Federal Government to provide a new $100 million per year fund that would support us to deliver new circular waste innovation projects in our communities.”
“This would create almost 800 new jobs and add $136 million per year to Australia’s GDP.”
Unlocking circular economies in regional communities
Cr Scott said regional and remote councils needed additional support and guidance to unlock the circular economy locally.
“Rural and remote councils face additional waste and recycling challenges, due to the spread of local properties as well as the long distances to sorting and processing facilities,” Cr Scott said.
“Many of these rural and remote councils have low ratepayer bases and can’t afford additional transport costs.”
Local Government New South Wales (LGNSW) President, Cr Darriea Turley AM, said there has been a growing waste and recycling crisis in the State, and LGNSW has consistently advocated for investment in better waste, recycling and circular economy solutions.
“Our councils have already been leading the way for their communities through innovative programs and hosting information sessions for households and businesses, to highlight the importance of waste reduction,” Cr Turley said.
“But we need more support from the Federal Government to unlock the circular economy, particularly in our regional and rural areas.”
Cr Turley also said there was a strong need for the Federal Government to look at ways to have bin harmonisation.
“We need to make sure that introducing a standardised bin collection service doesn’t increase any costs, in turn affecting our communities,” Cr Turley said.
“Councils best understand their communities as well as what waste and recycling services are needed in their areas.
“The government needs to work with councils through providing funding and support to improve our waste and recycling services, ensuring a healthier future for our communities.”
Support for national product stewardship
The Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) President, Cr Karen Chappel, said Western Australian Local Governments are also seeking assistance to unlock local circular economies and fund circular waste innovation projects.
The region’s councils are particularly after a commitment to effective national product stewardship schemes and additional funding and support to improve kerbside collection services.
“Effective National Product Stewardship schemes for items such as electronic waste, tyres and packaging are essential to ensure that doing the right thing doesn’t cost the community more,” Cr Chappel said.
“Whilst the move to onshore recycling options is fully supported by all levels of government and current funding is beneficial, if producers are not also required to take financial and physical responsibility for their products at end of life, recycling costs are only going to increase.
“Without effective product stewardship, it is possible the price of kerbside recycling will double in the next five years; and ultimately it will be the community that pays.”
Cr Chappel said the State Government’s commitment to an electronic waste landfill ban by 2024 would also have a huge cost to the Western Australian community if effective product stewardship was not in place.
A recent report from the Department of Waste and Environmental Regulation indicates that across Western Australia, an estimated 613,000t of electronic waste will be created in this current decade, and to recycle these materials would cost over $300 million.
“The landfill ban represents an opportunity to recover essential resources, but to be effective needs to be underpinned by Product Stewardship,” Cr Chappel said.
“This means the cost of recycling will be included in whatever electronic products you buy, rather than the whole community instead paying these costs at the recycling facility end.”
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