Tasmania releases its first waste and resource recovery strategy
By Rachael Ridley 4 December 2023
Tasmania has released its first legislated waste and resource recovery strategy, aligning state, regional, and local strategic planning to reduce waste and boost recycling.
One tonne of waste per person per year is landfilled in Tasmania, representing a significant loss of resources and economic opportunities. The Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2023-2026 aims to recover these resources by developing a framework to reduce the generation of waste, boost recycling and resource recovery, and position the state to move towards a circular economy.
The strategy represents the commitment by the Tasmanian Government to invest in recycling infrastructure and skills development, as well as develop programs that support actions higher up the waste hierarchy than recycling such as reuse, repair, and refurbishment.
The strategy focuses on four key areas, or ‘pillars’:
Integrated Planning and Action
Strategic Investment
Prioritise Circularity
Engagement and Partnerships
Within each of the pillars is three objectives, supported by actions and a timeline for implementation. Highlights include:
A recycling and resource recovery grants program.
Developing systems to ensure the landfill levy is administered effectively.
Developing sustainable procurement guidelines for governments.
Investing in private and public infrastructure and programs to improve the reuse, repair, refurbishment of products and the collection, sorting, processing, and remanufacturing capacity for priority materials including construction and demolition waste, difficult-to-recycle plastics, and organic waste.
Developing data management, analysis, and reporting systems to gain a better understanding of product and material flows and resource recovery capacity in Tasmania.
Implementing a market strategy to grow the resource recovery sector in Tasmania by identifying new and existing markets and actions to boost the recovery of priority materials.
Read the full Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2023-2026 .
Rachael manages the Business Recycling and Recycling Near You websites. Rachael joined Planet Ark in early 2019 after eight years working in media and publishing as a producer, editor and writer. Rachael loves using her skills in content creation and communication to instigate positive environmental behaviour change. Outside of work, Rachael enjoys spending time in nature, listening to music and patting dogs.
