Recycling crisis: Government ministers to meet to discuss waste ban solutions

AUSTRALIAN councils desperately need solutions to the international recycling ban, which is threatening to cripple them — but there is just one solution, a meeting of government ministers will hear on Friday.

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CREATING new markets for recycled waste is the only solution to the international rubbish ban threatening to cripple councils across Australia, a meeting of government ministers will hear on Friday.

Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg will on Friday meet with his state and territory counterparts amid the growing concerns about the consequences of the Chinese Government’s ban on imported recyclables.

The ban has increased recycling costs and forced councils to consider extra rate rises this year. Industry groups have also warned that more recycled waste could be sent to landfill as a result of the so-called “China Sword”.

Soft plastics collected for recycling.

Australian Local Government Association president and Prospect Mayor David O’Loughlin, who will represent councils at the meeting, plans to call for urgent action to create new markets for the processed paper and plastics that were previously dumped in China.

Mr O’Loughlin said state governments and councils should use their buying power to mandate the use of recyclables in products, such as bitumen for new roads.

“Even if it was just 5 per cent (requirement for recyclables) it would change the industry overnight,” Mr O’Loughlin said.

“Already there are suppliers that have produced a (bitumen) mix with glass as a substitute and with rubber and plastic as part of the mix.

“But they cannot sell it anywhere … so we have to change the demand equation because at the moment there is no value in recycled materials.”

Mr O’Loughlin said the South Australian Government should use its $100 million Green Industry Fund to help companies develop the technology.

He reiterated calls for a relief package for SA councils — similar to those offered by the New South Wales and Victorian governments — but stressed that longer-term policy changes were needed.

This should include the Federal Government cracking down on the importation of materials that were not easily recyclable, such as soft plastic packaging and polystyrene, Mr O’Loughlin said.

The State Government last week established a working group to report on the impacts of the China ban before deciding on any relief packages.

Environment Minister David Speirs said he was “looking forward to meeting his state and federal counterparts … to tackle the recycling issue.”