2018-06-27 SM - Attachment 1 to Item 2 - Directions Paper Transforming Queensland's Recycling & Waste Industry

The way forward
Queensland will progressively                                 New performance targets
move toward a ‘circular economy’                              New performance targets are necessary to drive a
to realise resource recovery                                  substantial reduction in the amount of waste disposed to
opportunities and grow recycling                              landfill in Queensland. Targets are proposed as follows:

sector investment and jobs                                    • 20 per cent avoidable waste disposed of to landfill
                                                                 by 2030
The global economy is transforming towards a                  • 10 per cent avoidable waste disposed of to landfill
more circular economy. Queensland’s economy is                   by 2040
predominantly linear, which means that things are             • Zero avoidable waste disposed of to landfill by 2050.
typically made from virgin raw materials, used, and then
thrown away as part of a ‘take-make-dispose system’           Under the circular economy model, wastes that are
commonly referred to as ‘cradle-to-grave’. The majority of    disposed of to landfill or incinerated (with or without
these end-of-life products end up in landfill.                 energy recovery) are considered a material loss. The
                                                              strategy will drive recognition of the material value in our
In contrast, a circular economy is one in which products      waste, and targets and actions will be set accordingly.
and materials keep circulating within the economy at
their highest value for as long as possible, through re-      In 2016–17, more than 50 per cent of Queensland’s
use, recycling, remanufacturing, delivering products as       municipal, commercial and industrial, and construction
services and sharing.                                         and demolition wastes (collectively termed “headline
                                                              wastes” in the Recycling and waste in Queensland 2017
Moving to a circular economy encourages improved              report) was disposed to landfill.
resource efficiency, and protects businesses from
fluctuating and sometimes volatile commodity prices,           The new strategy will identify what needs to be done
thus providing a more stable operating environment for        where and by when to work towards Queensland
manufacturers, retailers and consumers.                       becoming a zero avoidable net waste economy by 2050.
                                                              Zero avoidable net waste equates to eliminating all
Businesses operating under the circular economy model         waste where it is technologically, environmentally and
create the opportunity of new revenue streams, markets and    economically practicable to do so.
product lines, which help to further economic growth across
the state and align with the Advanced Queensland strategy.    This target is intended to align with the Pathways to a
                                                              clean growth economy—Queensland Climate Transition
The circular economy is predicted to have significant net      Strategy which seeks to achieve zero net emissions by
benefits for states and cities through additional revenue      2050 and acknowledges the role that waste has to play in
opportunities and the delivery of new jobs in the areas of    achieving Queensland’s climate targets.
re-use, remanufacturing and materials innovation.
                                                              The mid-period targets set for 2030 and 2040 will
                                                              ensure that the strategy’s progress can be tracked and
                                                              performance monitored.

                                                              Additional targets to measure the strategy’s objectives
                                                              and specific priorities will be developed in consultation
                                                              with key stakeholders. Examples include increased
                                                              resource recovery and recycling and decreased per capita
                                                              waste generation. In the first instance, these targets will
                                                              be designed to ensure Queensland is on par with the best
                                                              performing states by the end of the next decade.




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