Copy of Letter from the Waste Strategy Taskforce

Dear Ms Warren,

Thank you for your correspondence to the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Melissa Price MP, concerning single-use coffee cups. Your letter has been passed on to the Department of the Environment and Energy to reply.

On 7 December 2018, all of Australia's environment ministers set a new direction for waste and recycling, agreeing to a new National Waste Policy. The Policy is based on circular economy principles, recognising the economic and job opportunities in re-circulating valuable resources within the Australian economy. It includes strategies to reduce waste generated in Australia, improve resource recovery, and reduce the impact of plastic and packaging on the environment. The Policy is available at: environment.gov.au/waste

Ministers also agreed to the development of a National Action Plan to implement the National Waste Policy. The Plan will include targets and milestones to drive action, and it will address waste priorities including reducing plastic pollution. The Australian Government is now coordinating preparation of the National Action Plan.

Further to this, Australia's environment ministers have endorsed a target of 100 per cent of Australian packaging being recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 or earlier. Governments are working with the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) to deliver this target.

APCO have developed three additional targets that will see 70 per cent of plastic packaging recycled or composted, 30 per cent average recycled content across all packaging, and phasing out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging. They have also worked with Planet Ark and PREP Design to develop the Australasian Recycling Label, now being used by more than 50 businesses to help consumers better understand how to recycle packaging. More information on the Australasian Recycling Label is available at:
planetark.org/recyclinglabel/

Thank you again for bringing your concerns to the Government's attention.

Yours sincerely

Dr IIse Kiessling

Assistant Secretary

Waste Strategy Taskforce