❓ The closure of Amcor's paper recycling plant raises concerns about local recycling efforts. The government is increasing the waste levy and introducing legislation to promote waste reduction and resource recovery.
AnsweredQoN 521Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RECYCLING AND WASTE REDUCTION
I refer to media reports that the Amcor Ltd paper recycling plant will close its doors in September this year. What impact will this have on local recycling efforts, and what steps is the government taking to ensure that recycling and waste reduction continue into the future? Mr M. McGOWAN
I refer to media reports that the Amcor Ltd paper recycling plant will close its doors in September this year. What impact will this have on local recycling efforts, and what steps is the government taking to ensure that recycling and waste reduction continue into the future? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. I was informed this morning in correspondence from Amcor that it will close its Spearwood paper mill, which recycles cardboard and paper. Unfortunately, this will result in the loss of 87 jobs at that facility, which is very disappointing for both the government and, most importantly, the people who work at the facility. However, it brings into focus a broader issue; that is, the way that we deal with waste in Western Australia, including paper, glass, plastics and other forms of waste and what we do to ensure that we create a more viable future for recycling facilities, which, unfortunately, in recent times have been moving to other states or overseas. The government is taking a very proactive approach to dealing with waste. A couple of months ago I announced that the government will lift the waste levy to $9 a tonne. That will create a disincentive for people taking waste to landfill where, in effect, it is lost forever; it will create an incentive to find other uses for that waste. The increase in the levy will also provide more funds to put towards finding new ways to deal with that waste. We will be able to generate a major income stream that can be used for greater recycling of waste. In addition, I launched and put out for public comment the draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bill. It is open for public comment until the end of this year. That legislation will create a regime in Western Australia whereby mechanisms can be put in place to provide for extended responsibilities for producers of products such as tyres, old computers, batteries and so forth. Under the regime, container deposit rules, which were once in force in this state, will be able to be reinstated in Western Australia. A powerful and strong statutory waste authority will be established to put in place policies that will deal with this important issue. The government feels for the people who will lose their jobs, but it is very important that we work out a response for the future so that we create a viable waste reuse industry.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. I was informed this morning in correspondence from Amcor that it will close its Spearwood paper mill, which recycles cardboard and paper. Unfortunately, this will result in the loss of 87 jobs at that facility, which is very disappointing for both the government and, most importantly, the people who work at the facility. However, it brings into focus a broader issue; that is, the way that we deal with waste in Western Australia, including paper, glass, plastics and other forms of waste and what we do to ensure that we create a more viable future for recycling facilities, which, unfortunately, in recent times have been moving to other states or overseas. The government is taking a very proactive approach to dealing with waste. A couple of months ago I announced that the government will lift the waste levy to $9 a tonne. That will create a disincentive for people taking waste to landfill where, in effect, it is lost forever; it will create an incentive to find other uses for that waste. The increase in the levy will also provide more funds to put towards finding new ways to deal with that waste. We will be able to generate a major income stream that can be used for greater recycling of waste. In addition, I launched and put out for public comment the draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bill. It is open for public comment until the end of this year. That legislation will create a regime in Western Australia whereby mechanisms can be put in place to provide for extended responsibilities for producers of products such as tyres, old computers, batteries and so forth. Under the regime, container deposit rules, which were once in force in this state, will be able to be reinstated in Western Australia. A powerful and strong statutory waste authority will be established to put in place policies that will deal with this important issue. The government feels for the people who will lose their jobs, but it is very important that we work out a response for the future so that we create a viable waste reuse industry.
I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. I was informed this morning in correspondence from Amcor that it will close its Spearwood paper mill, which recycles cardboard and paper. Unfortunately, this will result in the loss of 87 jobs at that facility, which is very disappointing for both the government and, most importantly, the people who work at the facility. However, it brings into focus a broader issue; that is, the way that we deal with waste in Western Australia, including paper, glass, plastics and other forms of waste and what we do to ensure that we create a more viable future for recycling facilities, which, unfortunately, in recent times have been moving to other states or overseas. The government is taking a very proactive approach to dealing with waste. A couple of months ago I announced that the government will lift the waste levy to $9 a tonne. That will create a disincentive for people taking waste to landfill where, in effect, it is lost forever; it will create an incentive to find other uses for that waste. The increase in the levy will also provide more funds to put towards finding new ways to deal with that waste. We will be able to generate a major income stream that can be used for greater recycling of waste. In addition, I launched and put out for public comment the draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bill. It is open for public comment until the end of this year. That legislation will create a regime in Western Australia whereby mechanisms can be put in place to provide for extended responsibilities for producers of products such as tyres, old computers, batteries and so forth. Under the regime, container deposit rules, which were once in force in this state, will be able to be reinstated in Western Australia. A powerful and strong statutory waste authority will be established to put in place policies that will deal with this important issue. The government feels for the people who will lose their jobs, but it is very important that we work out a response for the future so that we create a viable waste reuse industry.
The government is taking a very proactive approach to dealing with waste. A couple of months ago I announced that the government will lift the waste levy to $9 a tonne. That will create a disincentive for people taking waste to landfill where, in effect, it is lost forever; it will create an incentive to find other uses for that waste. The increase in the levy will also provide more funds to put towards finding new ways to deal with that waste. We will be able to generate a major income stream that can be used for greater recycling of waste. In addition, I launched and put out for public comment the draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bill. It is open for public comment until the end of this year. That legislation will create a regime in Western Australia whereby mechanisms can be put in place to provide for extended responsibilities for producers of products such as tyres, old computers, batteries and so forth. Under the regime, container deposit rules, which were once in force in this state, will be able to be reinstated in Western Australia. A powerful and strong statutory waste authority will be established to put in place policies that will deal with this important issue. The government feels for the people who will lose their jobs, but it is very important that we work out a response for the future so that we create a viable waste reuse industry.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. I was informed this morning in correspondence from Amcor that it will close its Spearwood paper mill, which recycles cardboard and paper. Unfortunately, this will result in the loss of 87 jobs at that facility, which is very disappointing for both the government and, most importantly, the people who work at the facility. However, it brings into focus a broader issue; that is, the way that we deal with waste in Western Australia, including paper, glass, plastics and other forms of waste and what we do to ensure that we create a more viable future for recycling facilities, which, unfortunately, in recent times have been moving to other states or overseas. The government is taking a very proactive approach to dealing with waste. A couple of months ago I announced that the government will lift the waste levy to $9 a tonne. That will create a disincentive for people taking waste to landfill where, in effect, it is lost forever; it will create an incentive to find other uses for that waste. The increase in the levy will also provide more funds to put towards finding new ways to deal with that waste. We will be able to generate a major income stream that can be used for greater recycling of waste. In addition, I launched and put out for public comment the draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bill. It is open for public comment until the end of this year. That legislation will create a regime in Western Australia whereby mechanisms can be put in place to provide for extended responsibilities for producers of products such as tyres, old computers, batteries and so forth. Under the regime, container deposit rules, which were once in force in this state, will be able to be reinstated in Western Australia. A powerful and strong statutory waste authority will be established to put in place policies that will deal with this important issue. The government feels for the people who will lose their jobs, but it is very important that we work out a response for the future so that we create a viable waste reuse industry.
I thank the member for Victoria Park for his question. I was informed this morning in correspondence from Amcor that it will close its Spearwood paper mill, which recycles cardboard and paper. Unfortunately, this will result in the loss of 87 jobs at that facility, which is very disappointing for both the government and, most importantly, the people who work at the facility. However, it brings into focus a broader issue; that is, the way that we deal with waste in Western Australia, including paper, glass, plastics and other forms of waste and what we do to ensure that we create a more viable future for recycling facilities, which, unfortunately, in recent times have been moving to other states or overseas. The government is taking a very proactive approach to dealing with waste. A couple of months ago I announced that the government will lift the waste levy to $9 a tonne. That will create a disincentive for people taking waste to landfill where, in effect, it is lost forever; it will create an incentive to find other uses for that waste. The increase in the levy will also provide more funds to put towards finding new ways to deal with that waste. We will be able to generate a major income stream that can be used for greater recycling of waste. In addition, I launched and put out for public comment the draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bill. It is open for public comment until the end of this year. That legislation will create a regime in Western Australia whereby mechanisms can be put in place to provide for extended responsibilities for producers of products such as tyres, old computers, batteries and so forth. Under the regime, container deposit rules, which were once in force in this state, will be able to be reinstated in Western Australia. A powerful and strong statutory waste authority will be established to put in place policies that will deal with this important issue. The government feels for the people who will lose their jobs, but it is very important that we work out a response for the future so that we create a viable waste reuse industry.
The government is taking a very proactive approach to dealing with waste. A couple of months ago I announced that the government will lift the waste levy to $9 a tonne. That will create a disincentive for people taking waste to landfill where, in effect, it is lost forever; it will create an incentive to find other uses for that waste. The increase in the levy will also provide more funds to put towards finding new ways to deal with that waste. We will be able to generate a major income stream that can be used for greater recycling of waste. In addition, I launched and put out for public comment the draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bill. It is open for public comment until the end of this year. That legislation will create a regime in Western Australia whereby mechanisms can be put in place to provide for extended responsibilities for producers of products such as tyres, old computers, batteries and so forth. Under the regime, container deposit rules, which were once in force in this state, will be able to be reinstated in Western Australia. A powerful and strong statutory waste authority will be established to put in place policies that will deal with this important issue. The government feels for the people who will lose their jobs, but it is very important that we work out a response for the future so that we create a viable waste reuse industry.
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