Infrastructure

It always surprises me when governments announce waste/recycling policies which bear little resemblance to what is actually needed. But I blame myself.

“We can achieve a Circular Economy by 2025” was the proposition in a debate run by the Young Professionals of WMRR. I chaired the “No” side. “No chance” we said (and won).

Tasmania’s Parliament just passed the Waste and Resource Recovery Bill 2021, introducing a landfill levy and with it, bringing the state into line with other Australian jurisdictions.

Our current economic model is pretty much a linear one: take (extract) - make (stuff) - waste (landfill). It treats resources as infinite and assumes the environment can absorb the waste. It is therefore unsustainable in the long run.

People often ask “Is MRA doing any Circular Economy work?”. The answer is “Plenty”.

The NSW Government has created a $10 million fund to reduce landfilling of solar panels and battery systems. Phase 1 of the Circular Solar grants program (trial phase) awarded $1.1 million in funding for eligible trial projects.

For more than ten years, MRA has been arguing for an “Organics Revolution” in Australia to remove organics from landfill.

The NSW EPA announced Round 9 of the Organics Collection Household stream grant program which aims to divert food and garden waste from landfill and redirect it to organics processing facilities.

Which comes first, composting capacity or the commitment by Council to supply FOGO material?

The NSW EPA announced Round 9 of the Organics Infrastructure: Stream 1 - Processing Infrastructure Grant.

The waste industry has what the carbon sector doesn't – a target widely viewed as ambitious, as well as a substantial price to spur waste abatement – and that has prompted a huge increase in investor interest, says MRA Consulting Group.

As of 1 July 2021 resource recovery facilities in Victoria are captured under new Environment Protection Regulations. Facilities that trigger the requirements must apply by October 2021 for a licence or permit or by 2 January 2022 if the activity needs a registration. If you do not make an application, you can no longer operate.