54. Achieve the vision of a sustainable, low-waste circular economy by accelerating implementation of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030, including:
- Prioritising and expediting legislative and regulatory reforms, including:
- reviewing the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007 to reposition waste as a resource
- developing a waste-derived materials framework that enables the recovery of materials derived from waste and provide for their safe use in products with recycled content
- reviewing the Waste Levy, including the rate and geographical application to regional areas where feasible and practical
- reducing Waste Levy avoidance and evasion practices
- implementing the Waste Data Strategy to improve waste data collection and reporting to provide a more detailed understanding of WA’s waste streams
- Preparing a waste-derived materials market development plan that sets out actions required to grow demand for products with recycled content
- Strengthening the role of the WA public sector in supporting the circular economy through government procurement policies that set ambitious and progressively increasing targets to avoid and reduce waste generation, increase recovery and reuse of materials and purchase products with recycled content
- Presenting a clear roadmap and time frames for the implementation of waste legislative and regulatory reforms (see Recommendation 54a) and market development (see Recommendations 54b and 54c), and increasing the use of the Waste Levy funds to fast-track implementation
- investigating opportunities to improve the way mining and resources sector site waste is regulated and managed to increase recovery
- investigating the potential for more local governments to participate in collective arrangements to enhance the provision of waste services and infrastructure, and whether local governments not participating in collective arrangements undermines the provision of cost-effective waste management services and infrastructure.
The WA Government responded to Foundation for a stronger tomorrow in February 2023. Recommendation 54 is fully supported. For further information please refer to the response document.
Actions:
54.75 Implement the 2022-23 Action Plan and Business Plan in support of the Waste Strategy 2030
54.76 Legislate reforms to address the effectiveness of the waste levy and the review of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007
54.77 Implement the waste levy review
54.78 Develop a recovered materials approval framework
54.79 Implement a waste levy compliance program
54.80 Implement the Waste Data Strategy
2/6 actions complete
2/6 actions on schedule
2/6 actions behind schedule
54.75 Complete
Action is complete. The 2022-23 Business and Action Plan has been replaced by the 2023-24 Business and Action Plan. Expenditure was as per the 2023-24 Business Plan and actions as specified in the 2023-24 Action Plan, and to the satisfaction of the Waste Authority.
54.76 On schedule
A Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement for considering options to expand the levy boundary is being finalised for publication. Further reforms have been identified through the WARR Act review and Closing the Loop discussion paper.
54.77 Behind schedule
Findings of the waste levy review and an advance schedule of levy rates were published in May 2023 and these actions are now complete. Consultation on a regulatory impact statement will be undertaken before any changes to the levy boundary.
54.78 Behind schedule
Legislative drafting has been delayed, however progress has been made to continue the design of policy and supporting elements.
54.79 Complete
Action is complete. During 2023-24 there were 88 waste inspections undertaken.
54.80 On schedule
Implementation of actions within the Waste Data Strategy is ongoing. The Waste Data Strategy is currently under review and will be updated.