Victorian’s recycle well, but what happens to the material once it’s collected is a worry for a leading industry group.
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Speaking after multinational company Visy announced it will stop receiving recyclable materials from some contractors in Victoria this week, Victorian waste management association chief executive officer Peter Anderson called for the government to create a taskforce to address long-term industry issues.
“Around 40 per cent (of Victoria’s recyclable material) goes overseas. If it doesn't go overseas then where does it go? It just stockpiles,” he said.
Visy’s decision was a response to China banning imports of Australian paper and plastic waste from January 1 and affects a number of contractors, some of whom collect recyclable material for central Victorian councils.
Wheelie Waste is a bin-collecting contractor for Visy and has agreements with the Mount Alexander and Macedon Ranges shires, but both councils confirmed their recycling collection would continue as usual.
Buloke Shire was also affected but confirmed its contractor – Four Seasons Waste – had found a temporary solution to the problem, with a company in Dandenong able to process its residents’ waste.
The scenario, which impacted a number of councils across Victoria, highlighted the need to ramp up local recycling efforts, in particular supporting companies that create retail products out of recyclable materials, Mr Anderson said.
“They need a hand to be created, they just don't emerge,” he said.
The government collects landfill levys from local councils each year, raking in an estimated $180 million annually.
This pot of money, termed by the government as the sustainability fund, could be used to help emerging recycling companies, Mr Anderson believed.
“It's not a handout, it should be invested in the right way,” he said.
Waste-to-energy plants, one of which is being considered by Bendigo council as part of its waste review, should also be explored, Mr Anderson said.
Environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio said: “The government has improved how the Sustainability Fund is administered and dramatically increased spending for projects to protect Victoria’s biodiversity, support better waste management and increase recycling.
“The current situation has come about through market failure - and as a matter of urgency we are working with industry, local councils and other governments to find the best way to manage our recyclable materials in the short-term while other longer-term solutions are identified.
“We are already taking action that will support our recycling industry to respond to China’s new import rules in the medium to long term.”