Inquiry into Waste Reduction and Recycling Policies

This submission has been prepared by the Australian Environment and Planning Law Group (AEPLG) of the Law Council of Australia’s Legal Practice Section.

AEPLG welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications Inquiry into Waste Reduction and Recycling Policies (Waste Reduction Inquiry) focussing on the effectiveness of the Australian Government’s waste reduction and recycling policies in delivering a circular economy.

As a preliminary observation, whilst the AEPLG supports reviewing policy effectiveness, it notes the frequency with which inquiries and reports in this area are undertaken, without effective implementation of recommendations generated, despite the significant time and cost invested to complete each inquiry.¹ Consequently, AEPLG cautions that, without implementation of recommendations of this and earlier inquiries, the significant and urgent change required is unlikely to occur by the target dates. It is important that policy refinement does not divert resources from implementing practical measures to reduce waste.

Read the full submission below.

^{1 Some of the previous inquiries (omitting state Inquiries) include 2018 Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communication’s Report: Never waste a crisis: the waste and recycling industry in Australia Report, June 2018, 2018 Department of the Environment and Energy, Threat Abatement Plan for the Impacts of Marine Debris on Vertebrate Marine Life of Australia’s Coasts and Oceans, 2015 Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communication’s Report: Toxic tide: the threat of marine plastic pollution in Australia, 2014 Department of the Environment and Energy, Threat Abatement Plan for the Impacts of Marine Debris on Vertebrate Marine Life: Review 2009-2014, 2009 Department of the Environment and Energy, Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of Marine Debris on Vertebrate Marine Life.}

Last Updated on 06/11/2024

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