The NSW Government has unveiled the first part of its infrastructure plan to prevent a waste crisis in NSW. This plan also incorporates updated settings on Energy from Waste, following the recent review.
This is the first time the NSW Government has produced a waste and circular infrastructure plan to ensure the state has the infrastructure it needs to support a growing population. This crucial future planning means bins will continue to be collected and we can drive more recycling.
Without action, Greater Sydney is on track to run out of space in landfill by 2030. Many regional landfills are also struggling. Despite the recent investments in recycling, including landmark food and organics recycling legislation passing earlier this year, waste generation is expected to outpace capacity within five years.
Following public consultation, the first chapter of the NSW Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan has been released - charting a path forward to meet our growing residual waste needs.
The Plan introduces:
- streamlined planning processes, while keeping environmental safeguards, to help approvals for new facilities (including recycling facilities)
- a waste infrastructure concierge to provide advice and planning support
- a new independent Advisory Committee for strategic waste infrastructure
- updates to the energy from waste framework and refining where world's best practice energy from waste facilities can be developed.
The outcomes of the Energy from Waste review are included as part of this strategy, as energy from waste is an important part of waste infrastructure planning. Modern, latest technology thermal treatment is a better alternative to building new landfills. There are more than 2,000 operating in cities around the world.
Work has now commenced on future chapters of the Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan, which will focus on regional and rural waste challenges and solutions, as well as reuse and recycling infrastructure, with community consultation to commence later this year.
To read Chapter 1 of the NSW Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan, visit https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Waste/waste-and-circular-infrastructure-plan.
To learn more about Energy from Waste and the updated settings, visit https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Your-environment/Waste/waste-and-circular-infrastructure-plan/energy-from-waste-nsw
Quote attributable to Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe:
"We are in a race against the clock to redesign how we deal with waste. If we haven't got somewhere to put our rubbish in five years, those red bins can't be collected.
"We will not allow this to happen - that is why we have designed our state's first ever strategic plan to ensure NSW has the infrastructure it needs as we build a circular economy.
"We have to break down the barriers around waste infrastructure investment and planning, while continuing to protect our environment from harm.
"We have to do all the things at once - drive up recycling, drive down waste, better regulate dangerous products, increase reuse and repair, and ban those products that shouldn't be used in the first place."
