The Rockliff Liberal Government has released Tasmania's first legislated waste and resource recovery strategy, which will set the State on a pathway to being a place where nothing is wasted.
The Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2023-2026 will allow for a better understanding of product use, reuse, repair, and resource flows in Tasmania.
Additionally, the Strategy will support the development and adoption of new business models, programs and partnerships, building the capacity of Tasmania - and Tasmanians - to work and innovate in this rapidly evolving sector.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roger Jaensch, said the Strategy will help grow Tasmania's circular economy – where waste is reduced and materials or products are reused and recycled.
"This Strategy comes at an exciting time, when governments, industry and the community are all focused on working together to achieve a circular economy and a low-emissions future for Tasmania," Minister Jaensch said.
"The Tasmanian Liberal Government has invested more than $20 million in the waste and resource recovery sector in Tasmania over recent years, improving organics, plastics and tyre recycling, and progressing our single use plastics bans and Container Refund Scheme.
"We have also put in place laws and policies that will help us make the best use of our resources and products, most significantly the Waste and Resource Recovery Act 2022.
"To achieve this, we not only need a strategy, but also ongoing engagement and enthusiasm from governments, industry, and the broader community."
Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board Chair, Pam Allan, said the Board was working on a suite of waste management and resource recovery measures.
"The Strategy provides a framework to inform the Board's investments in programs and infrastructure to help realise the vision that Tasmania is a place where nothing is wasted.
"It is my hope that this Strategy will now help to establish the critical programs and partnerships that we will need in the coming years as we work towards an economy where the real value of products and materials are realised."
The funds from the statewide landfill levy will be allocated by the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Board to implement the waste strategy.
Details of the strategy can be found at: https://wrr.tas.gov.au/planning-and-reporting/waste-strategy
