Have your say on the new Energy from Waste policy for Queensland

Queenslanders are being invited to have their say on an Energy-from-Waste policy discussion paper that has been released today.

Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said as Queensland fights the war on waste, finding alternative uses for waste is becoming more important than ever.

“The discussion paper, released today, is giving Queenslanders a chance to contribute to the development of a new policy, provide feedback on the types of technologies and help us plan for the future,” Ms Enoch said.

“The paper is an important action under the government’s new waste strategy, released last week.

“Converting waste to energy should not be considerd as an alternative to recycling. Avoiding and reducing waste should always be the most preferable option as a long-term solution, followed by reusing and recycling waste.

“However, recovering energy from waste is suitable for waste that cannot be recycled, and would otherwise be destined for landfill.”

Ms Enoch said the Government’s waste strategy outlined priorities and actions to help grow the recycling and resource recovery sector, while reducing the amount of waste ending up in landfill.

“We have set ambitious targets to recover 90% of the waste we generate by 2050 and recycle at least 75% of this waste,” she said.

“But we acknowledge that some wastes cannot be recycled, and it is better to retain the value of these wastes by recovering energy than it is to dispose of them to landfill.

“This is all part of our broader transition to a circular economy.”

Rick Ralph, Executive Officer of Waste Recycling Industry Queensland, said WRIQ and its members welcome the release of the new waste strategy.

“Energy from Waste will play an important role in helping to achieve the objectives and targets of the strategy,” he said.

“The release of the energy from waste discussion paper is a step in the right direction.

“Industry looks forward to having this discussion with the government in this important initiative.”

Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR) CEO Gayle Sloan said WMRR welcomed the release of Queensland’s draft Energy from Waste policy for community consultation.

“WMRR believes Energy from Waste is a vital part of a sustainable waste and resource recovery system, playing a key role in managing residual waste that would have otherwise ended up in landfill.

“Energy from Waste complements recycling and is part of a move towards a circular economy. Its technologies are also proven globally, with more than 2,000 Energy from Waste facilities operating safely across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, many having operated for decades.

“We look forward to working with the Queensland Government to leverage the technical expertise of our industry to develop a policy that promotes investment in, and growth of, an integrated waste management and resource recovery system that includes Energy from Waste.”

The discussion paper is available online: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/pollution/management/waste/recovery/energy-waste

It is open for public consultation until 26 August.

The new Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy can be found here: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/pollution/management/waste/recovery/strategy

Media contact: 0437 859 987