Greens pledge $500 million for recycling infrastructure

Greens’ waste and recycling spokesperson Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said urgent federal action is needed to end Australia’s recycling crisis and stop recyclables going to landfill in Victoria.

Following the announcement that China would no longer accept Australia’s low-quality waste, stakeholders across the waste industry called for urgent action and immediate funding from the federal government. Senator Whish-Wilson commented, “Sadly, this government has chosen to sit on its hands, and almost two years later the states are now sending their recycled waste to landfill.”

Senator Whish-Wilson chaired a senate inquiry into the waste and recycling industry in Australia that produced a report detailing how the nation should respond to the recycling crisis. The committee recommended that the federal government prioritise the establishment of a circular economy to save resources, build local industries, create jobs and clean up the country’s oceans and communities. The committee also recommended the federal government implement a national container deposit scheme.

Following the report, all parties came together, producing recommendations to kickstart the urgent federal action needed to end the recycling crisis.

The Greens have iterated their commitment to reinvigorating the National Waste Policy, pledging investment of $500 million over 5 years into infrastructure and programs to improve the quality of recycling. The party also plans to introduce mandatory product stewardship schemes, including a national container deposit scheme, distribute $10 million in grants to community groups and social enterprises to run high-quality re-use and recycling centres and establish mandatory targets for the procurement of recycled material at all levels of government.

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