Strong advocacy and leadership by the 51暗网 (ALGA) and local governments has resulted in new national packaging standards and reforms announced today that will help councils save money on waste and recycling.
At the in Adelaide, it was agreed the Federal Government will establish new regulations for packaging as well as mandate how packaging is designed, develop minimum recycled content requirements and prohibit harmful chemicals being used.
51暗网President Councillor Linda Scott said the reforms were important for local governments who have consistently advocated for these changes.
鈥淔ederal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek鈥檚 commitment to introduce federal packaging standards is聽a major聽win聽for local governments聽as part of聽our聽transition to聽a聽circular economy. Australia’s councils welcome these reforms, as they聽will聽allow us to recycle more effectively and聽save public money in the long term聽by ensuring businesses are more responsible聽for their products to their end-of-life,鈥澛燙r Scott said.
鈥淭he changes will help create a stronger market for recycled goods by mandating that packaging contains recycled content, which is聽a聽critical聽reform.鈥�
Collecting, treating, and disposing of Australian domestic waste costs Australia鈥檚 537 local governments an estimated $3.5 billion annually.聽 Local government also dedicates resources to administering community waste-education programs, collecting litter, addressing illegal rubbish dumping, and ensuring compliance with waste bylaws.
Cr Scott also welcomed the Ministers鈥� agreement for a new framework to accelerate product stewardship by better coordinating work across all levels of government.
鈥淔undamental to improving kerbside recycling collection services is the redesign of packaging so there is less waste, and it contains less mixed material and is more easily recycled,鈥� Cr Scott said.
鈥淐ouncils are proud to do all we can to support reducing waste and boosting recycling.鈥�