Inquiry into Recycling and Waste Management

Report

Created: Wednesday, 20 March 2019 10:56

Last Updated: Monday, 02 December 2019 15:17

The report was tabled in Parliament on 27 November 2019.

Inquiry into recycling and waste management5.97 MB

The interim report was tabled on 27 August 2019.

Inquiry into recycling and waste management - Interim report1.58 MB

Mr Cesar Melhem, Chair of the Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee, tables the report of
the Inquiry into Recycling and Waste Management.

Terms of Reference

Created: Monday, 18 March 2019 15:35

Last Updated: Friday, 02 August 2019 12:00

On 6 March 2019, the Legislative Council agreed to the following motion:

That this house requires the Environment and Planning Committee to inquire into, consider and provide an urgent interim report, as the committee deems necessary, on the current circumstances in municipal and industrial recycling and waste management, and provide a final report, by Tuesday, 13 August 2019, on the crisis in Victoria’s recycling and waste management system, partly resulting from the China waste importation ban, including, but not limited to:

1. the responsibility of the Victorian government to establish and maintain a coherent, efficient and environmentally responsible approach to solid waste management across the state, including assistance to local councils;
2. whether the China National Sword policy was anticipated and responded to properly;
3. identifying short and long-term solutions to the recycling and waste management system crisis, taking into account:
   1. the need to avoid dangerous stockpiling and ensure recyclable waste is actually being recycle
   2. the cleaning and sorting capabilities and the processing capabilities in Victoria and the potential to expand the local recycling industry
   3. how to better enable the use of recycled materials in local manufacturing;
   4. the existing business model and economic challenges facing the existing industry;
   5. the quantifiable benefits, including job creation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, of pursuing elements of a circular economy in Victoria;
   6. the existing Sustainability Fund and how it can be used to fund solutions to the waste crisis;
4. strategies to reduce waste generation and better manage all waste such as soft plastics, compostable paper and pulp, and commercial waste, including, but not limited to:
   1. product stewardship;
   2. container deposit schemes;
   3. banning single-use plastics;
   4. government procurement policies
5. relevant reviews, inquiries and reports into the waste and recycling industry in other Australian jurisdictions and internationally;
6. any other related matters.

* The reporting date for this inquiry has been extended from 13 August 2019 to 29 November 2019.  An interim report is due on 29 August 2019. 

Terms of Reference - Inquiry into Recycling and Waste Management476.38 KB

Media

Created: Monday, 18 March 2019 15:37

Last Updated: Wednesday, 27 November 2019 09:59

27 NOV 2019 Recommendations presented to address recycling and waste management problems165.67 KB
30 OCT 2019 Key agencies at final hearing on recycling and waste management169.97 KB
18 OCT 2019 Seven city councils at next hearing on recycling and waste management166.78 KB
4 OCT 2019 Environmental groups at next hearing on recycling and waste management430.61 KB
26 SEP 2019 Recycling and packaging companies at inquiry hearing477.11 KB
17 SEP 2019 Hearing in western Victoria for recycling and waste management inquiry474.22 KB
30 AUG 2019 Echuca hearing for recycling and waste management inquiry476.12 KB
27 AUG 2019 Interim report tabled on recycling and waste management464.22 KB
16 AUG 2019 Morwell hearing for recycling and waste management inquiry475.38 KB
2 AUG 2019 Community hearing day on impact of major factory fires471.70 KB
10 JUL 2019 Recycling inquiry invites community members to speak on factory fires473.50 KB
20 JUN 2019 Recycling inquiry to hear from industry participants at two days of hearings461.88 KB
3 JUN 2019 Recycling inquiry to hear from industry council470.20 KB
13 MAY 2019 Submission deadline extended for recycling and waste management inquiry466.30 KB
07 MAY 2019 Recycling companies at parliamentary hearing461.15 KB
01 MAY 2019 More than 200 submissions for recycling inquiry as series of public hearings begins474.43 KB
29 APR 2019 First hearing for recycling and waste management inquiry463.26 KB