List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

2.65

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government in consultation with state and territory governments implement a pathway to a predominantly national circular economy. This should pay attention to the design and composition of products to enable the greatest capacity for end of life recycling, and consider regulation and incentives to encourage greater repair, reuse, recycling and recovery of materials.

Recommendation 2

2.66

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government undertake further research to identify and examine waste management and resource recovery opportunities related to commercial and industrial, and construction and demolition waste.

Recommendation 3

3.47

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government update the National Waste Policy Action Plan to include measures focused on the transportation and infrastructure requirements to manage national waste across regions and state and territory borders.

Recommendation 4

3.48

The Committee recommends that waste management and resource recovery be included as a standing item on the National Federation Reform Council agenda to monitor federal and state and territory progress against the National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019 and Response Strategy.

Recommendation 5

3.49

The Committee recommends that the responsible Minister report annually to Parliament on the progress of the targets and actions set out in the National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019.

Recommendation 6

3.50

The Committee recommends that recipients of Commonwealth waste management and recycling funding be required to report on the waste management and resource recovery outcomes as a result of that funding.

Recommendation 7

4.146

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government, in consultation with industry, identify and consider the inclusion of additional waste streams under the Product Stewardship Act 2011, particularly emerging or complex waste streams such as e-waste, solar panels, medical waste and textiles.

Recommendation 8

4.147

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government undertake stakeholder consultations to better align the existing waste management and recycling funding and investment programs with industry’s needs.

Recommendation 9

4.148

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government undertake an assessment of Australia’s current and future waste management and resource recovery infrastructure capacity, with particular emphasis on the volume of waste to be managed and potential markets.

Recommendation 10

4.149

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government, in consultation with the state and territory governments work towards identifying and harmonising relevant waste management and resource recovery policies and legislation to enable a seamless, coordinated and integrated industry across the country.

Recommendation 11

4.150

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government work with state and territory governments to improve access to container deposit facilities and collection points, particularly for people who use these facilities to earn extra money or fundraise.

Recommendation 12

4.151

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government design and implement a national public education and awareness campaign that emphasises avoiding waste, the impact of waste, and how it can be better managed by consumers.

Recommendation 13

5.46

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government develop a national waste to energy policy in consultation with state and territory governments. Consideration should be given to where waste to energy fits into the waste management hierarchy.

5.47

In developing a national policy, the Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government review current state and territory waste to energy regulation with a view to ensuring national consistency across planning, approval and operational processes.

Recommendation 14

5.48

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government in consultation with state and territory governments develop a national methane-to-power program for landfill sites in cities and larger regional centres.

Recommendation 15

6.40

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government facilitate and coordinate a national assessment of the capacity and potential of rural, regional and remote communities to establish a local waste management and resource recovery industry or serve as a regional hub. This assessment should include an examination of the attributes of communities, including but not limited to, the regional landscape, existing transport routes, local infrastructure, current amenities and services, and markets for recovered waste.

Recommendation 16

6.41

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government examine measures for rural, regional and remote communities to access adequate funding to invest in local waste management and resource recovery infrastructure and solutions.

Recommendation 17

6.42

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government, in consultation with state and territory and local governments, establish a mobile waste management and recycling program for rural, regional, remote and Indigenous communities designed to:

Collect waste directly from properties, farms and Indigenous communities and transport this waste for processing and resource recovery in larger regional or town centres.

Collect abandoned vehicles from properties and roads for crushing and resource recovery in larger regional or town centres.

Recommendation 18

7.55

That the Commonwealth Government examine the flow of textile waste and other household goods in Australia, as well as Australia’s current and future capacity to process and recover this waste. The aim of this assessment is to identify challenges and opportunities to better manage this waste stream.

Recommendation 19

7.56

That the Commonwealth Government develop a specific national textile waste policy which is underpinned by the principles of a circular economy. It is recommended this policy focus on, but not be limited to:

greater investment in domestic recycling technology and infrastructure;

improved product stewardship and design;

introduction of standards and specifications for recycled content in textiles;

targeted government procurement policies for recycled textiles;

consistency across state and territory policy; and

greater consumer education and awareness regarding textile waste, reuse and repair.

Recommendation 20

7.57

That the Commonwealth Government, in consultation with state and territory governments, examine options for:

improving the placement and availability of charitable and commercial clothing recycling bins in local government areas; and

minimising the costs associated with managing illegally dumped goods or unsuitable donations.

Recommendation 21

8.93

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government undertake further research into improving waste management and resource recovery in the medical sector including opportunities to reduce, recycle and reuse waste from hospitals, clinical practices and medical facilities.

8.94

Consideration should be given to establishing a unit similar to NHS England’s Sustainable Development Unit to harmonise Commonwealth and State and Territory regulation.

8.95

The Committee recommends that the Department of Health take the lead on this body of work in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Recommendation 22

8.96

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government in consultation with the states and territories, ensure that any ethical issues arising from the management, handling and disposal of human and anatomical waste are respectfully addressed.

Recommendation 23

8.97

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government in consultation with the states and territories explore options for resource recovery of food organics and garden organics waste including processing as compost and fertiliser for horticulture and agriculture.

8.98

It is recommended that a business plan be developed to identify opportunities for reprocessed food organics and garden organics waste to be transported and sold in rural and regional markets.

Recommendation 24

8.99

The Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government in consultation with state and territories explore options to sustainably manage decommissioned wind turbines.

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