Page 43 - Plastics News May 2018

internAtionAL news

Greens release grand plan to fix Australia's recycling crisis

n the midst of mounting pressure make recycling sustainable in Australia, and that's going to
Ion the Federal Government to take take significant investment and some time," he said. "But
leadership on Australia's recycling if we get it right, then we will be self-sufficient, we will
crisis, nd devise a national plan have a resilient recycling industry and create thousands
to prevent the industry's collapse. of new jobs."
The Greens have released their
own policy platform, which they
hope will be adopted at a meeting Reusable Packaging Association
of state and territory environment launches campaign for RPCs for
ministers. Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, who chairs a
Senate inquiry into recycling, said the Greens push came food applications
in response to a federal policy vacuum on the crisis. "We
need to take action. No more talkfest from the Federal he Tampa-based Reusable Packaging Association
Environment Minister, tomorrow's time to put up solutions, T(RPA) launched a new campaign May 2 promoting
to put up funding."The Minister, Josh Frydenberg, said
the Government was taking the national lead to tackle the value of reusable transport packaging systems for
issues in the waste industry. "[This includes] through the movement of food from farm, producer, or processor
the product stewardship program, the phasing out of to point of sale. The campaign demonstrates how food
microbeads, the National Market Development Strategy distribution can be more efficient, effective, and
for Used Tyres and the National Food Waste Strategy," Mr sustainable in a reusable packaging system, generating
Frydenberg said."We're working closely with the states positive top line, bottom line, and environmental
and territories to assist the waste and recycling industries results. Reusable packaging has a long history of
to identify the products that China will no longer accept effective use for the transport of food, and modern
and to investigate alternative markets for our recyclable
waste."Plan would target plastics, boost funding and
technology.Senator Whish-Wilson said the Greens policy
provided funding pathways necessary to establish the
national waste plan, which was devised by local, state
and federal governments with the environment movement
more than a decade ago."This is 16 policies that they
wanted implemented, out of those 16 policies, virtually
none have been implemented by any federal government
in the last 10 years," Senator Whish-Wilson said."The ones
that have been implemented have been poorly funded or
a couple of them have been scrapped." The Greens are product technologies and supply chain operations are
proposing enhanced technology and sorting processes at enabling increasing opportunities for reuse.“Reusable
recycling plants and for $500 million to be put aside by Transport Packaging is today’s way to move product,”
the Federal Government to go to the Clean Energy Finance said Tim Debus, RPA President & CEO. “Everyone in
Corporation to mandate waste management.
the supply chain, from farm to retail, is laser-focused
The party also wants a national mandatory product on driving consumer satisfaction, shopper loyalty,
stewardship scheme to encourage manufacturers to make and profitable growth in a way that is sustainable and
recyclable products, a phase out of single-use plastics and minimizes environmental impact. End-to-end and back
community grants to encourage recycling. Senator Whish- again, RTP supports these goals. It is today’s way to
Wilson said China's ban on importing some of Australia's save and today’s way to sell.”The campaign will initially
kerbside recycled waste had created a juncture where feature perishable food commodities, highlighting
the recycling industry could either be reformed, or slip the use of reusable plastic containers (RPCs) in fresh
towards meltdown."We actually need to look at how we produce, egg, and meat supply chains.

43 May 2018 Plastics News