LGAT Submission – Draft Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy
While the Strategy provides an important foundation, it’s time to switch from planning into action.
We support embracing a circular economy approach as it has the potential to change the way waste is viewed within Tasmania and provide significant benefits. To realise this potential, we believe that it is important to clearly define:
- The scale of the circular economy to be adopted, i.e. local, regional, or state.
- The type of benefits that could be realised in Tasmania and the associated adjustment costs.
- How other jurisdictions with similar structures and challenges to Tasmania have approached the circular economy.
The State Government should also consider how they mitigate the risk of illegal waste dumping, with the introduction of the statewide waste levy requiring a range of targeted monitoring and enforcement programs. Appropriate resourcing is required to be both responsive and proactive in engaging with industry and the community. As part of this, it is critical that councils are supported (with resources and direct funding) to implement the necessary statewide activities on litter management and illegal dumping.
Data plays a pivotal role in effective decision-making and we believe that data management systems need to be implemented to help establish a statewide baseline to monitor performance against. It’s important to recognise and measure not only how waste materials are re-circulated through recycling, but also the economic benefits.
Tasmania is well-positioned to benefit from greater local recovery and recycling activities, but we need the resources to achieve this. Improved infrastructure, prioritising local market solutions for recyclable materials and community education are just some of the key aspects we’ve highlighted in our submission.
As the primary waste managers, Tasmanian councils and regional waste authorities require increased support to identify local, fit-for-purpose solutions that align with the final Strategy and support a circular economy.