Government activity has increased since the comprehensive waste export ban introduced in August 2019.25
State and territory governments have been pursuing a range of waste management policies that stimulate job creation, drive innovation and deliver better resource recovery. They have all implemented or announced container deposit schemes (CDSs) that make manufacturers more responsible for the entire product lifecycle, with Victoria and New South Wales announcing bans on single-use plastics.
Apart from the Northern Territory, they have also announced long-term landfill diversion targets. Queensland has recently introduced landfill levies and New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia have increased them.
The waste industry is now a major focus for the Australian Government. In 2019, it appointed the first Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management.
The Australian Government also created the National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019 to support implementation of the 2018 National Waste Policy.26 The Action Plan's key initiatives focus on:
• expanding markets for products made from recycled content
• improving waste data capture
• consistent national tracking
• co-investment in recycling infrastructure.