26 September 2023

COAG supports plastics ban

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The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has announced it will progressively ban the export of plastic, paper, tyres and glass waste from July, representing an historic change for the recycling industry.

Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley said the ban signalled a “once-in-a generation” transformation of the recycling industry that could generate $1.5 billion in economic activity over the next 20 years.

“This is about waking up to an issue that has been buried in landfill for too long,” Ms Ley said.

“This ban is the result of months of consultation with industry, State and local Governments, and it represents a fundamental change that recognises waste as resource instead of a problem,” she said.

“Most importantly, it is about Australia saying it is our waste and our responsibility and it is about industry and government being prepared to invest in change.”

She said the ban would see all waste glass export banned by July this year; mixed waste plastics by July 2021; whole tyres include baled tyres by December 2021; and remaining waste products, including waste products and cardboard, by no later than 30 June 2022.

Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans said confirmation of the ban was the result of strong cooperation between States, Territories and industry.

“We now have the opportunity to create jobs, grow the economy, transform the waste industry and significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill,” Mr Evans said.

“And we know that for every 10,000 tonnes of waste sent to landfill there are approximately 2.8 direct jobs created.”

“If we recycle the same waste, 9.2 direct jobs are created,” he said.

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