The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) is urgently calling for a regulated, national product stewardship scheme for packaging and plastics.
The move follows the release of a report from the Australian Council of Recyclers and the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, Securing Australia’s Plastic Recycling Future, which ALGA says presents “a sobering picture of an industry in danger of collapse without urgent reform”.
Companies that use packaging currently have no responsibility for the packaging they put into the market, and local councils and landfills are overwhelmed by rising volumes of material that could be recycled, the Association said.
It is calling for a regulated, national product stewardship scheme for packaging and plastics which would require companies to reclaim, recycle and reuse their commercial packaging and plastic.
“Local councils are overwhelmed by rising volumes of packaging and plastics, with landfill capacity nearing its limits,” ALGA President and Gladstone Mayor, Matt Burnett said in a statement.
“Each year, Australia uses over 1.3 million tonnes of plastic packaging, but more than 1 million tonnes ends up in landfill or as litter.
“Although recyclers can process plastics, low demand for recycled material threatens facility closures, leading to more waste, increased imports, and job losses.
“Investments in domestic recycling were made in anticipation of a mandatory national scheme, a promise yet to be fulfilled.”
ALGA says regulatory uncertainty now threatens the entire system, with some recyclers considering withdrawal from services, which could increase landfill and restart stockpiling.
“Councils and ratepayers already carry a significant cost burden. They can’t afford to bear the additional cost of doing nothing,” said President Burnett.
“Environmental costs are projected to exceed $5 billion by 2050, and councils will be left to shoulder the burden.
“By contrast, modelling by the Australian Council of Recyclers shows that moving the responsibility for packaging waste back to industry would only add 0.1% to product costs.
“National Packaging Reform is urgently needed to support recycling, create a level playing field, and shift responsibility to industry over ratepayers.”
ALGA says councils are seeking a practical solution that provides investment certainty.
“The Government should explore using the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act to mandate an extended producer responsibility scheme, ensuring systematic monitoring of risks and impacts on local government services, and guaranteeing minimum service levels for regional, rural, and remote communities.”
“Australia can be a leader in packaging and plastics stewardship, but leadership requires action.
“The time for a national product stewardship scheme is now, before financial and environmental costs become unmanageable and before vital infrastructure and jobs are lost,” the ALGA President said.
Watch the ACOR ‘Securing Australia’s Plastic Recycling Future’ webinar.
