$23m for the nation’s new national waste policy

Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett says the government will invest $23 million over five years to deliver Australia’s new landmark National Waste Policy.

The National Waste Policy provides leadership to tackle Australia’s growing waste problem over the coming decade.

“The National Waste Policy will help us avoid the generation of waste, reduce the amount of waste being disposed and turn more waste into valuable resources,” Garrett said.

“The states, territories and the Commonwealth have all agreed that we need to be smarter and more innovative in the way we deal with our growing mountain of waste.

“This new national waste policy will improve the way we deal with waste, help industry take greater responsibility, increase community access to recycling facilities and improve the way we safely manage hazardous waste.”

These new funds will assist in delivering on the government’s commitment to establishing a national regulatory framework for television and computer recycling and other product stewardship schemes.

Other priorities for the policy will include work to cut the red tape preventing the use of waste as a resource, promotion sustainable procurement by governments, the development of a national data system to monitor Australia’s waste and better management of hazardous substances.

The National Waste Policy was released in November 2009, after significant consultation with governments, industry and the community.

For more information on Australia’s National Waste Policy, visit http://www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/index.html.