Summary of state and territory waste policy settings Landfill levy (2016-17) Strategy document Targets to increase recovery rate Other (incl. landfill bans) ACT MSW $90.55/t ACT Waste Management Strategy: Towards a sustainable Canberra Waste generation grows less than population. Expand reuse of goods. Waste sector is carbon neutral by 2020. Double energy generated from waste. Recover waste resources for carbon sequestration. Recovery rate increases to over: 85% by 2020 90% by 2025. Landfill ban on computers and televisions. C&I $146.20/t C&I with >50% recyclable material $199.20/t Not a landfill levy as ACT owns the landfill and sets fees NSW Metropolitan area $135.70/t NSW Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2014-21 By 2016–17, reduce litter by 40% compared with 2011–12 then continue to reduce to 2021–22. Also by 2021–22: reduce waste per capita reduce illegal dumping in Sydney and the Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast regions by 30% establish baseline data to develop additional targets. By 2021–22, increase recycling rates for: MSW from 52% (in 2010–11) to 70% C&I waste from 57% to 70% C&D waste from 75% to 80%. Hazardous waste tracking system in place. Container deposit scheme to be introduced in December 2017 Regional area $78.20/t Virgin excavated natural material $122.13/t Shredder floc metro $67.85/t Coal washery rejects $14.20/t NT No landfill levy Waste Management Strategy for the Northern Territory 2015-2022 No specific targets are included in the strategy. Container deposit scheme in place. Qld No landfill levy Waste—Everyone’s responsibility: Queensland Waste Avoidance and Resource Productivity Strategy By 2024: reduce per capita by 5% reduce waste to landfill by 15% improve management of problem wastes (specific targets to be developed). By 2024, increase: state average MSW recycling rate to 50% (from 33% in 2012-13) C&I recycling rate to 55% (from 42%) C&D recycling rate to 80% (from 61%). Hazardous waste tracking system in place.
Government policy and community expectations are significant drivers within the management sector, balanced by the cost of delivering such services. An increased emphasis on recovery and recycling, complemented by traditional, environmentally responsible waste management methods, can fuel jobs growth in a number of sectors and lead to improved operations for many waste management providers. Another significant opportunity is the potential to use technological improvements to drive efficiencies within business and deliver a better product for customers. In addition to those already in the marketplace (for example collections routing systems, use of GPS and so on), it is those that are yet to be developed that will continue to provide competitive advantage for players in the waste management sector. By 2026 The waste industry must position itself as an essential service which is integral to the lives of all Australians, one that underpins economic growth and employment, which links to our quality of life, and plays a significant role in environmental and public health, planning and infrastructure, resource and energy production, and emergency management. In addition to this, the waste management sector should play an important part in forming part of environmentally and economically sustainable development philosophy that helps drive the Australian economy forward.