Parliamentary inquiry hands down soft plastics report
LGA South Australia has summarised the report’s key recommendations and outlined our position in a written response to the inquiry.
Background
On 17 May 2023, the Legislative Council passed a resolution to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into and report on the recycling of soft plastics and other recyclable material in South Australia.
The final report from the Select Committee has now been tabled in parliament and can be viewed online.
Key recommendations
The Select Committee made 33 recommendations, with key areas of focus summarised below:
- redesigning soft plastics
- reducing soft plastics
- infrastructure needs – recycling needs, kerbside collection and in-store drop off
- end markets
- community education and engagement
- federal, states and territories collaboration.
The Select Committee also recommended the State Government review the Solid Waste Levy to support recycling goals and review clause 10(2) of the Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy 2010. This would provide councils with options or regularity on waste collection services for kerbside bins.
LGA was disappointed in the Select Committee’s recommendations focused on the expansion of kerbside trials in the absence of a fully funded and transparent product stewardship scheme.
The report highlighted a lack of strong end markets for material and the need for significant investment in recycling and reprocessing infrastructure and community education to reduce contamination. These elements are necessary to make collection of this material economically viable.
LGA response
Councils play a significant role in providing waste management services, which extends well beyond kerbside collection.
LGA’s formal written response is structured to respond to the Select Committee’s questions about:
- how SA has responded to REDcycle being unable to process soft plastics
- how supermarket and other collection points have ceased and what can be done to re-establish them
- whether State Government funding to support businesses and councils within the soft plastics and other recyclables industry has been sufficient
- identifying short and long term opportunities and solutions to ensure soft plastics can be recycled
- strategies to reduce soft plastic waste generation from both commercial and residential sources
LGA also provided a verbal submission to the Select Committee inquiry based on feedback and comment from member councils. This also considered existing policy positions and data about council’s waste, recycling and resource recovery endeavours.
Find out more
For more information about the parliamentary report or LGA’s submission, please contact Senior Policy Officer Brianna McGee.
For media enquiries, please contact media@lga.sa.gov.au