WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION – RULES AND REGULATION
The private sector’s hip pocket WRIQ, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE AND NATIONAL AFFILIATES, IS TAKING A DEEP DIVE INTO LEVY COLLECTION & EXPENDITURE AND IS CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND BETTER EQUITY IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF LEVIES.
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ark Smith, CEO of Waste Recycling Industry Association Queensland (WRIQ) says a series of compounding factors has Australia on the cusp of greatness. He is optimistic about the industry’s ability to create collective opportunities that support Australia’s sovereign capabilities and local job growth. “To tap into an economic
opportunity worth billions to state and national economies, we need to seize the opportunity ahead of us and this includes recasting our traditional market intervention strategies.” There has been a lot of change in community expectations, international trade and regulation for the sector in recent years. Governments on all levels have now carved out a role in waste and
WRIQ is undertaking a research project, with the support of its affiliates, to investigate government expenditure through sector grants.
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resource recovery, but it is usually always the private sector that are running services, owning and managing assets. Smith says the private sector is by far the largest investor, employer, owner and operator of the waste, resource recovery and circular economy network. “The businesses my affiliate partners and I represent are the businesses across Australia that contribute billions of dollars annually to the economy, employing tens and thousands of Australians,” he says. The sector manages fleets of vehicles, thousands of pieces of machinery and equipment and invests in infrastructure and other assets. “Our function is to service Australian households and businesses managing the environmental impacts of our economy and upskill, train and employ Australians in the process,” Smith says. “We do a lot more than just sort recycling at material recovery facilities.” He highlights that Australia’s waste and resource recovery network comprises millions of bins across homes, construction sites, workplaces, hospitals, schools and public spaces. “By investing in and supporting our waste and recycling system, we are indirectly investing in every aspect
