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The Australian Commonwealth has achieved a first. A Minister for Waste (and Environmental Management) was announced by the Morrison Government. In the 200 years since colonial settlement we have not had a Minister with Waste in their title. I hope that ushers in a period of attention and reform.

The Australian Government recently opened the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund offering grants of up to $1 million to aid in the modernisation of manufacturing infrastructure including of MRFs and resource reprocessing facilities.

Following up on his earlier Circular Economy article, Mike Ritchie reviews the European Union Circular Economy Action Plan report of 54 actions and adjusts those actions to propose an equivalent action list for Australia.

Australian landfill levies are on the move, with significant changes in Queensland and South Australia. The trouble with waste disposal, however, is that it tends to flow to the point of cheapest disposal. Just like water, waste flows downhill to the lowest point.

The Queensland Government has opened the second round of its Resource Recovery Industry Development Program to aid the State's resource recovery industries through support for projects that divert waste from landfill and create jobs.

The Australian Government has opened the eighth round of its Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grant to support short-term industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community.

A circular economy is necessary to minimise landfill, increase resources recovery and protect our natural environment. A strong local reprocessing sector will also generate new jobs, support the economy and safeguard Australia from international developments such as China's National Sword. Mike Ritchie outlines the key drivers for a strong Circular Economy in Australia.

MRA welcomes the involvement of the Prime Minister and Premiers at the 9 August 2019 COAG to resolve the many difficulties facing the recycling and waste management sector.

If you are dealing with asbestos waste in NSW, take notice. The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal has handed down a decision which confirms that any waste containing asbestos is asbestos waste endorsing all of the EPA interpretations of the POEO Act.

MRA’s Mike Ritchie was interviewed by IPWEA ahead of the International Public Works Conference in August on a range of waste issues including innovations and the action needed to unite all levels of government on targets to give the waste stream its appropriate economic potential.

The NSW EPA has opened the fourth round of its Major Resource Recovery Infrastructure (MRRI) grants under the $337 million NSW Government Waste Less Recycle More initiative (WLRM). The grants offer funding to deliver new infrastructure projects in NSW, with the aim of increasing diversion from landfill.

The NSW EPA has released the next round of the Organics Infrastructure (Large and Small) Program grant under the $337 million WLRM extension. The grants are awarded under five funding streams that cater to specific applicant categories and have different project requirements.