Policy framework
National Action Plan
(a) 2018 National Waste Policy
(b) 2019 National Waste Policy Action Plan
(c) 2021 National Plastics Plan
(a) The 2018 National Waste Policy, agreed by all Australian governments, sets the agenda for waste to 2030. The Policy is underpinned by circular economy principles and recognises that by applying the principles of a circular economy, we can support better and repeated use of our resources.. A copy of the Policy is available at
http://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste-resource-recovery/national-waste-policy
(b) The 2019 National Waste Policy Action Plan drives implementation of the National Waste Policy, including by setting seven National Waste Targets to reduce waste, increase recycling and importantly develop markets for recycled materials. A copy of the Action Plan is available at
https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste/publications/national-waste-policy-action-plan
(c) On 2 March 2020 the Australian Government convened Australia’s first ever National Plastics Summit, bringing together over 200 leaders from government, industry, and the community to identify solutions to Australia’s plastic challenge. The National Plastics Plan takes a whole-of-lifecycle approach to the plastic challenge, including: product design, increasing Australia’s recycling capacity, stimulating demand for recycled content, and preventing plastics from leaking into the environment. The plan addresses:
o Avoiding problematic and unnecessary plastics
o The need for Australia to take responsibility for our plastic waste
o Supporting consumer action on plastics
o Plastic-free oceans and waterways
o Research and innovation, to inform good decisions and unlock new opportunities.
A copy of the National Plastics Plan is available at
https://www.environment.gov.au/protection/waste/plastics-and-packaging/national-plastics-plan
The National Plastics Plan includes actions for industry to phase out certain problematic plastics informed by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s (APCO) consultation with industry and governments.
These material streams are informed by APCO’s consultation with industry and government over the past two years on problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging.Government is working with industry on steps to phase out these products.
To provide greater clarity to industry, on 15 April 2021 Environment Ministers identified eight problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic product types for industry to phase out nationally by 2025 (or sooner in some cases) under the National Waste Policy Action Plan.
Legal framework
(a) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)
(b) Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (RAWR Act)
(c) Recycling and Waste Reduction (Export—Waste Plastic) Rules 2021 (Waste Plastic Rules)
(d) Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 (Hazardous Waste Act)
(e) National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011
– Brief description:
(a) Injury and fatality to vetebrate marine life caused by ingestion of, or entanglement in, harmful marine debris is listed as a key threatening process under the EPBC Act.
Australia’s Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris on the vertebrate wildlife of Australia’s coasts and oceans incorporates actions needed to abate the listed key threatening process. The threat abatement plan includes a range of management approaches for research and monitoring, public outreach and education, preventing and reducing debris from land-based sources as well as addressing marine-based sources and removing accumulated marine debris from the coastal marine environment.
(b) The Australian Government has introduced landmark legislation to ensure Australia takes responsibility for its waste. The RAWR Act provides a national framework to manage waste and recycling across Australia, now and into the future. It implements the export ban on waste plastic, paper, glass, and tyres that was agreed by the Commonwealth, state, and territory governments in 2019. The legislation also incorporates the frameworks within the former Product Stewardship Act 2011, with improvements, to encourage companies to take greater responsibility for the waste they generate, including through better product design and the increased recovery and reuse of waste materials.
(c) Made within the frameworks established in the RAWR Act, the Waste Plastic Rules implement the ban on exports of unprocessed waste plastic in two phases.
As of 1 July 2021, the export of mixed plastic waste from Australia will be banned. Exporters of waste plastic will be required to hold an export licence and sort their plastic into a single polymer or resin prior to export. The licencing scheme is designed to ensure that positive environmental and human health outcomes are achieved when waste is exported from Australia and that waste plastic is only exported for further processing, recycling, and re-manufacture.
As of 1 July 2022, waste plastic will not be allowed to be exported unless it is both single polymer or resin and it has been further processed, for example into pellets or flakes ready for re-manufacture, prior to export.
The Waste Plastic Rules will help ensure that Australia takes responsibility for its plastic waste and promote the development of our domestic recycling sector as well as the development of a circular economy.
(d) Australia is a signatory to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal (Basal Convention) and implements its obligations through the Hazardous Waste Act.
The Basel Convention was amended from 1 January 2021 to enhance controls on exports, imports and transboundary movement of waste plastics, so that impacts on human health and the environment are minimised. The amendments introduce a broad category of waste plastics that will be subject to prior informed consent procedures, with certain exceptions.
The Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Amendment Bill 2021 is currently before the Australian Parliament. If passed, it will incorporate the Basel Convention plastic amendments into Australian law. The Hazardous Waste Act will operate in tandem with the RaWR Act to ensure the optimal environmental outcome in relation to waste plastics.
(e) The Australian Government partners with state and territories governments and industry to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging, including plastic packaging, through the Australian Packaging Covenant (Covenant). The Covenant is underpinned by the National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 . The Australian Government, on behalf of the National Environment Protection Council, is currently undertaking an independent review of the National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 and the Covenant.
Indicators ( please list any relevant national targets and indicators that measure progress, if any )
(a) Packaging targets
In April 2018, Australia’s Environment Ministers agreed to reduce the amount of waste generated and make it easier for products to be recycled. Ministers endorsed a national target of 100 per cent of Australian packaging being recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025 or earlier.
In 2018, to help achieve this target, the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) established the 2025 National Packaging Targets to create a new sustainable pathway for the way we manage packaging in Australia. The three industry-led targets, to be achieved by 2025, are:
i. 70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted
ii. 50% of average recycled content included in packaging
iii. The phase out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastics packaging.
(b) The Australian Government supports APCO’s ongoing work to deliver a suite of resources for industry to assess and improve the design and manufacturing of their packaging. These include the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines, Food Services Packaging Sustainability Guidelines, Quick Start guidelines for design for recovery and PET.
(c) The Australian Government stongly supports the use of the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) as the only verified recycling label on the Australian market. The ARL is a world-leading consumer education tool which helps households recycle and assists brand owners to design recyclable packaging.
A national plastics pollution database – Australia’s 2021 National Plastics Plan includes a commitment for the Australian Government to partner with organisations to establish a national monitoring protocol and database for plastics pollution. This is currently in the early stages of development.
Measures
Measures |
Achievements |
Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation |
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Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws) |
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a) 2021 National Plastics Plan – Phase outs Targeted products: a) To provide greater clarity to industry, on 15 April 2021 Environment Ministers identified eight problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic product types for industry to phase out nationally by 2025 (or sooner in some cases) under the National Waste Policy Action Plan. The list includes:
· “Degradable” plastics (fragmentable/oxo-degradable)
· Plastic utensils and stirrers
· Expanded polystyrene (EPS) consumer food containers (e.g. cups and clamshells) · EPS consumer goods packaging (loose fill and moulded) · Microbeads in personal health care products. |
We do not see any particular trend Plan is new. Not yet measured. |
Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design |
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a) Australian Circular Economy Hub and Marketplace b) Plastics Design Summit c) CSIRO National Circular Economy Roadmap for Plastics, Glass, Paper and Tyres a) The Australian Government has invested AU$1.6 million through the Environment Restoration Fund to help establish an Australian Circular Economy Hub and Marketplace by end of 2021, designed to be a one-stop-shop for circular economy inspiration, education and implementation in Australia. b) A Plastics Design Summit will be held for product designers and manufacturers to showcase their sustainable product design. c) CSIRO’s National Circular Economy Roadmap for Plastics, Glass, Paper and Tyres will be used by governments, industry and researchers to inform future decisions on investment, policy development and research priorities. |
We do not see any particular trend New initiatives. Not yet measured. |
Regulation on microplastics |
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– Voluntary phase-out of microbeads in rinse-off personal care, cosmetic and cleaning products sold in Australia Brief description: – A 2020 independent assessment of the voluntary industry-led phase-out of microbeads in rinse-off personal care, cosmetic and cleaning products sold in Australia revealed that 99.3% of the targeted products were microbead free. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years – The peak industry organisation implementing the phase-out will continue to monitor the market to ensure products remain microbead free through their existing monitoring and assurance program. Numerical data if any: The assessment found that: – of the approximately 8100 unique products inspected, 99.3 per cent were microbead-free. – for the 0.7 per cent of products containing microbeads, facial scrubs, facial cleansers, and face masks were the most common product types using microbeads as an ingredient. – there were no microbeads present in cleaning products or in oral hygiene products surveyed, such as mouthwash and toothpaste. |
Measures |
Achievements |
Environmentally sound waste management |
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Enforcement of proper waste management system |
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(a) Ban on exports of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres Brief description: On 13 March 2020, the Australian Government, along with all states and territories and local governments, agreed to introduce a ban on the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres and that the ban would be phased in over four years, starting with glass on 1 January 2021. The Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 (the Act) commenced on 16 December 2021. The Recycling and Waste Reduction Rules (Export–Waste Plastic) Rules 2021 (Rules) were made on 24 May 2021. The Act and Rules regulate export of waste plastic. From 1 July 2021, unsorted mixed waste plastic will no longer be able to be exported from Australia. Exporters of waste plastic that are sorted into single polymer (or processed with other materials into processed engineered fuel) will be required to hold an export licence and declare each consignment of exported plastic. From 1 July 2022, plastics that has been sorted into single polymer will require further processing (for example into flakes or pellets) before it can be exported. |
We do not see any particular trend – From 1 July 2021 Australia will no longer export low-grade mixed plastic; all plastic exports must be single polymer; from 1 July 2022 all plastic exports must be processed into flakes or pellets ready for remanufacture. Numerical data if any: – In 2018/19 Australia exported about 150,000 tonnes of low-grade mixed plastic |
Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean |
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(b) 2019 National Action Plan to implement the 2018 National Waste Policy (c) Australian Recycling Investment Plan (d) Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris on the vertebrate wildlife of Australia’s coasts and oceans Brief description: (a) On 8 November 2019, Australian environment ministers agreed to a National Waste Policy Action Plan (the Action Plan) that will drive the implementation of the 2018 National Waste Policy. The Action Plan includes ambitious targets to make Australia a world leader in waste management and recycling, including: • An 80% ‘recovery’ rate of material across all waste streams • Significant increases to government procurement of recycled materials • Phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025 (b) The Australian Government has committed to a AU$167 million Australian Recycling Investment Plan to increase Australia’s recycling rates and tackle plastic waste and litter, and accelerate work on new recycling schemes. The focus of this Plan is on creating the right investment environment so that new technologies are commercialised, preventing pollution from entering our oceans and creating valuable new products. The Plan includes AU$100 million through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to support the manufacture of products using recycled materials (including plastics), AU$20 million through Cooperative Research Centre grants to find new and innovative solutions to plastic recycling and waste, an AU$20 million Product Stewardship Investment Fund to help to fast track new recycling/product stewardship schemes, and AU$16 million toward a Pacific Ocean Litter Project, and more than AU$11 million for community campaigns to reduce litter and clean up beaches and waterways. (c) Australia is implementing the Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris on the vertebrate wildlife of Australia’s coasts and oceans. The plan is available at https://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/marine-debris-2018. (d) Specific actions in the 2021 National Plastics Plan relating to the prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage into the ocean include: – Work with industry to fast-track the phase out of particular problematic and unnecessary plastics, and consider regulatory action should the industry phase out not be achieved – Deliver a Plastic Free Beaches initiative in partnership with Boomerang Alliance to eliinate single-use plastics from Australia’s favourite beaches and support local businesses to switch to alternative products – Pursue coordinated global action on marine litter and microplastic pollution through a new global agreement – Work with the textile and whitegoods sectors on an industry-led phase-in of microfibre filters on new residential and commercial washing machines by 1 July 2030. – Initiate an industry-led cross-sectoral stewardship taskforce to reduce cigarette butt litter in Australia and consider potential stewardship schemes – Partner with states and territories and the CSIRO on solutions to prevent plastic debris entering the marine environment via stormwater – Partner with organisations to establish a national monitoring protocol and database for plastic pollution. – Continue to implement the Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris on the vertebrate wildlife of Australia’s coasts and oceans . – Establish an Indonesia-Australia Systemic Innovation Lab on Marine Plastic Waste under the leadership of the CSIRO and the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. – Implement measures to reduce ship-sourced waste in accordance with the International Maritime Organization’s Action Plan to address marine plastic litter from ships |
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Others |
Measures |
Achievements |
Check the following actions in your country. |
Choose the most appropriate options to describe the achievements attained through the measures selected, using quantitative information if any. |
Cleanup of marine plastic litter |
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Collection of scattered waste on beach |
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a) Australian Government Ghost Nets Initiative: Indigenous Rangers Coastal Clean-ups Project. b) Environment Restoration Fund c) Communities Environment Program Brief description: a) As part of the the $14.8 million Australian Government Ghost Nets Initiative, work will be conducted with Indigenous ranger groups to collect data on the source of ghost nets and coordinate retrievals and marine debris beach clean ups in the Gulf of Carpentaria, one of the nation’s hot spots for ghost nets drifting from foreign waters. The Ghost Nets Initiative. The on-ground work will commence from late-2021 to mid-2024. b) The Australian Government is investing $100 million, over four years from 2019-20 to 2022-23 through the Environment Restoration Fund. Projects delivered under the ERF focus on protecting threatened and migratory species and their habitat across Australia’s coasts, oceans and waterways. ERF grants have been provided for beach and coastline clean-up activities, including AU$300,000 to Clean Up Australia Day and AU$5,000,000 to Conservation Volunteers Australia. c) The Communities Environment Program is a grant program that supports community-led projects to address local environmental priorities, including litter clean up events. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Removal of plastic litter from the ocean |
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a) Australian Government Ghost Nets Initiative Brief description: a) The $14.8 million Australian Government Ghost Nets Initiative addresses the challenge of ghost nets and plastic litter in the waters and beaches of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The initiative will be delivered over three years and will include actions targeted at removal of plastic litter from the ocean, including: i. new technology to better detect, collect and dispose of ghost nets, including satellite tags and funding for the in-water retrieval of ghost nets; ii. work with Indigenous ranger groups to collect data on the source of ghost nets and coordinate retrievals and marine debris beach clean ups in the Gulf of Carpentaria; and iii. investment in proactive steps to address the source of the issue with stakeholders and enable further research and coordination. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Measures |
Achievements |
Promotion of innovative solutions |
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Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’) |
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a) A Plastics Design Summit b) Australian Circular Economy Hub Brief description: a) A Plastics Design Summit will be held for product designers and manufacturers to showcase their sustainable product design. b) The Australian Government has invested AU$1.6 million through the Environment Restoration Fund to help establish an Australian Circular Economy Hub and Marketplace by end of 2021, designed to be a one-stop-shop for circular economy inspiration, education and implementation in Australia. |
We do not see any particular trend Comments: New initiatives. Not yet measured. |
Measures |
Achievements |
Education and awareness raising |
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Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL |
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National level: a) Australia is implementing the Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris on vertebrate wildlife of Australia’s coasts and oceans (TAP). b) Boomerang alliance Brief description: a) The TAP includes a range of management approaches for research and monitoring, public outreach and education, preventing and reducing debris from land-based sources as well as addressing marine-based sources and removing accumulated marine debris from the coastal marine environment. b) The Department conducted a closed non-competitive ad hoc grant (Jan 2021) to deliver a national Plastic Free Beaches program, which would be an expansion of Boomerang Alliance’s existing Plastic Free Places initiative. Up to $600,000 (ex GST) in departmental funding over two years, sourced from the $35 million to implement the National Waste Policy Action Plan, has been earmarked to deliver the grant. A funding agreement was recently finalised with project activities commencing in May 2021. Through the proposed grant, Australian businesses in selected areas (yet to be identified by Boomerang Alliance) will be supported to transition away from single use plastics to reduce the amount of problematic single-use plastics and packaging that leaks into the environment. Locations will be selected on the basis that they: · Are geographic areas that disproportionately contribute to marine plastic litter (e.g. high visitor numbers, density of retail and food outlets offering single use plastic items, proximity to the coast or waterways through which plastic pollution is transported); and · Demonstrate local community and business support, noting that the program’s success ultimately depends on business and community support Local level: Yes Names of actions: a) Plastic Free Beaches initiative Brief description: Plastic Free Beaches will be delivered in partnership with Boomerang Alliance to eliminate single-use plastics from Australia’s favorite beaches and support local businesses to switch to alternative products, simultaneously raising consumer awareness of the issue. |
National level: We see a positive improvement from last two years Local level: We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Measures |
Achievements |
Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter |
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Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics |
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(a) National Waste Reports (b) Other research (c) National Environment Science Program (d) National plastics pollution monitoring protocol and database Brief description: (a) Australia’s National Waste Reports describe Australia’s national performance on waste and recycling. The Reports presents data and commentary on waste generation, recovery and fate for all waste streams and various material categories. It also analyses this information by jurisdiction and on a per capita basis. More information is available at: National Waste Report 2020 | Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (b) Australia is conducting a range of research to better understand marine debris, including marine plastic pollution. Recent CSIRO research indicates that 75% of Australian beach pollution is plastic. This research will assist in setting baselines for marine debris and plastic pollution, allowing this to be tracked over time. For details on CSIRO marine debris research, see https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/OandA/Areas/Marine-resources-and-industries/Marine-debris . (c) The Australian Government has invested AU$149 million in the second phase of the National Environment Science Program to establish four new multidisciplinary and applied research hubs, including a Marine and Coastal Hub and a Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub. The program provides evidence for the design, delivery and on-ground outcomes for environmental programs, helps decision-makers build resilience and supports positive environmental, social and economic outcomes, including in relation to plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics. (d) Australia’s 2021 National Plastics Plan includes a commitment for the Australian Government to partner with organisations to establish a national monitoring protocol and database for plastics pollution (currently in the early stages of development). |
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Engagement in international/regional level actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics |
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(a) Regional engagement (a) International engagement and commitments Brief description: (a) Regional engagement Under the Australian Government’s AU$167 million Australian Recycling Investment Plan, AU$16 million has been committed to the Pacific Ocean Litter Project to support the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) with the implementation of the Pacific Regional Action Plan: Marine Litter 2018-2025. This Project will enable SPREP to assist Pacific island countries refuse, reduce and replace single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, cutlery, food containers and drink bottles, which make up much of the plastic waste in inshore waters and beaches in the Pacific region. (b) International engagement and commitments The Australian Government recognises that marine plastic pollution is a global issue requiring a coordinated international response. Australia is a member of the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme Clean Seas Campaign, the G20 Marine Litter Action Plan and G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter, and the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. Under the UN Clean Seas Campaign, Australia has made several public commitments, including packaging targets. Australia is also pursuing improved coordinated global action to address marine plastic pollution including through discussions towards a new global agreement at the United Nations Environment Assembly. |
We do not see any particular trend [yet] Comments: Programs are commencing with monitoring and evaluation. It is too early to determine a trend. |
Challenges
(a) Australia would like to improve environmentally responsible trade in recycled plastics in the Indo-Pacific region, and work with our neighbours and the international community to find practical solutions that keep plastic out of the ocean and remove what is already there.
Contact details
Sarah Fieg
Antonella Bates