The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for the Environment
The Hon Trevor Evans, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management
After consulting with industry, the export ban on waste glass will now commence on 1 January 2021. The schedule for implementing the export ban on waste plastic, paper and tyres remain unchanged.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said restrictions related to COVID-19 made it impossible for Parliament to pass legislation in time for the July 1 deadline but that the Government will not waiver on its commitment to banning the export on waste glass.
“We will introduce new legislation later this year to implement the waste export ban, giving interested stakeholders an opportunity to review the draft legislation,” Ms Ley said.
The ban on the export of waste plastic, paper and tyres will come into effect from July 2021 through to July 2024.
As part of the national response to the ban on waste, the Government is asking industry and state and territory governments to work together to bring forward project proposals that deliver a national solution for mixed-paper recycling in Australia.
“Australia has a once in a generation opportunity to improve waste management and recycling through national leadership and by funding infrastructure investments and encouraging new technologies,” Ms Ley said.
Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans said Australia exports approximately 375,000 tonnes of mixed wastepaper and cardboard each year but the ban will see a shift to recycling these materials domestically by 2024.
“The Morrison Government is particularly interested in paper-recycling facility proposals that adopt new innovations for recovered paper and generate new jobs in rural and regional Australia,” Mr Evans said.
State governments have until the mid-year to submit their project proposals.
