Paper and cardboard waste, including printed off-cuts, will be excluded from Australia’s waste export ban until July 2024 giving industry and the federal government time to work on a more sustainable solution for paper sorting and conversion onshore.
In 2019 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) put out a call to industry to come forward with submissions outlining how the waste export ban would impact business in all sectors.
In response, the Real Media Collective (TRMC) worked with the Australasian Paper Industry Association (APIA) to write a detailed submission about the cost impost a waste export ban on paper and cardboard would have on the printing industry. It also modeled potential job losses and other impacts.
The central issue was due to the number of onshore paper mills in Australia closing, the capacity to sell printed off-cuts onshore was greatly reduced.
This in turn meant print businesses would instead have to pay for the waste to go into landfill in Australia.
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has now returned its findings into how waste should be treated in Australia.
Paper and cardboard has been given an extension on its export ban until July 2024, with plastic, tyres and glass facing more imminent bans.
“The start date for paper and cardboard is later than for glass, tyres and plastic,” the department said in its release.
“This is because of the larger investments and complex infrastructure development required to ensure Australia has the right processing capacity to manage paper domestically.”
TRMC chief executive officer Kellie Northwood says this is a great outcome for the industry.
“We are delighted in receiving this news and I certainly thanked the Minister last night in the Zoom call,” Northwood said.
“This process truly did engage with industry and there was a genuine interest in getting the policy right which was welcomed.
“With local mills closing the local fixed capacity to sell printed paper waste has reduced and printers were looking to overseas supply of printed offcuts.
“The originally proposed legislation would have seen printers not able to sell printed waste papers offshore and instead have to fund the printed waste to be sent to landfill. A cost printers can ill-afford prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and most definitely unable to fund in the current climate. A negative outcome for the industry and for the environment.
“Between now and 2024 TRMC in partnership with APIA will work with industry for solutions on paper sorting and conversion solutions which will be presented to government for consideration of inclusion beyond 2024.”
Northwood said a taskforce is now being established to participate in development discussions with government and she is calling on those who would like to be involved to get in touch.
She added more details on the taskforce are to follow.
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