Waste strategies


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The ACT manages waste through a variety of strategies and policies including the ACT Circular Economy Strategy and the ACT Waste Management Strategy.

ACT Circular Economy Strategy 2023-2030

The ACT Government has developed the Territory’s first Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan which sets the ACT’s circular economy vision through to 2030. The development of a circular economy responds to concerns about resource scarcity, pollution of the environment and the economic limits of patterns of production and consumption. The aim of a circular economy is to keep materials in use for as long as possible, reducing the need to use natural resources.

The current ‘take-make-dispose’ linear economic approach sees valuable materials end up in landfill while we continue to draw on precious natural resources to make new products. Building the circular economy will help make Canberra a more sustainable, prosperous and liveable city.

The strategy and action plan has 6 key themes:

  1. food and organics
  2. built environment
  3. consumer goods
  4. emerging and problematic waste streams
  5. creating space to showcase our commitment to the circular economy
  6. procurement, skills, innovation and governance.

This strategy and action plan is guided by 3 strategic objectives to support the transition to a circular economy, representing areas where the ACT Government would like to see action.

  1. Grow extended producer responsibility.
  2. Grow markets for recovered materials and goods and circular business models.
  3. Create high value jobs and attract innovative new enterprises.

The benefits of a circular economy include:

  • improving the natural environment
  • wellbeing
  • supporting the transition to a net zero city
  • opportunities for innovation
  • economic growth
  • job creation.

The participation of Canberra businesses, industry and the broader community is vital in supporting sustainability goals and to foster innovation needed to successfully transition to a circular economy in the ACT.

Read the ACT Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2030 (PDF 7.8 MB)

ACT Circular Economy Strategy (PDF)

Waste strategies, policies and studies

ACT Waste Management Strategy

Developed in consultation with the community, the ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025 (PDF 2.0 MB) sets a clear direction for the management of waste in the ACT. It builds on the previous strategy - No waste by 2010 (PDF 132.7 KB).

The strategy highlights that reducing waste requires a collective effort and that waste should be viewed as a resource. It provides a framework for sustainable resource management, with broad actions needed to achieve a waste-free society including:

  • community commitment
  • avoidance and reduction
  • resource recovery
  • residual waste management
  • creative solutions.

Turning waste into resources

The ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-25 relies on the full support of the wider community. It requires a culture shift from thinking of unwanted materials as waste, to thinking of them as resources.

The strategy sets a target of increasing the rate of resource recovery to over 90% by 2025, with no recoverable waste sent to landfill. A range of strategies are needed to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to maximise recovery.

Waste generators also need to take responsibility for the wastes they produce. This requires behaviour change that can only be achieved through targeted community engagement, partnerships and education programs.

ACT Waste Management Strategy (PDF 2.0 MB)

ACT Waste Feasibility Study

The Waste Feasibility Study was established in mid-2015 to identify a pathway towards achieving the ACT’s waste management targets. This required an understanding of the complex and interconnected nature of waste management - involving almost every aspect of life in Canberra.

ACT Waste Feasibility Study (PDF)

Waste Management Development Control Code

The Development Control Code for Best Practice Waste Management in the ACT 2019 (PDF 4.4MB) and Waste and Recycling Management Plan (Editable PDF 1.6MB) assists development professionals to incorporate mandatory and best practice waste management principles into the design construction and operation of new developments.

To calculate residential waste and recycling allocations, please use the allocation calculator (Excel 61KB).

Waste Management Development Control Code (PDF)

National Waste Policy

The 2018 National Waste Policy and 2019 Action Plan provide a framework for collective action by businesses, industry, governments, communities and individuals until 2030. The documents have been agreed to by all jurisdictions and represent a fundamental shift in how Australia will manage waste into the future.

The policy identifies 5 overarching principles underpinning waste management in a circular economy. They are:

  • avoid waste
  • improve resource recovery
  • increase use of recycled material and build demand and markets for recycled products
  • better manage material flows to benefit human health, the environment and the economy
  • improve information to support innovation, guide investment and enable informed consumer decisions.

The Action Plan supports the achievements of the ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025 and is consistent with the 2018 Waste Feasibility Study Roadmap.

ACT Waste-to-Energy Policy

The Waste-to-Energy Policy was developed to inform industry and community about the energy recovery activities that are permitted in the ACT. The development of a waste-to-energy policy was a recommendation of the Waste Feasibility Study.

The policy prohibits the use of thermal technology to recover energy from waste within the ACT. It also provides waste operators with alternatives to landfill disposal through non-thermal means.

In developing this policy, the ACT Government conducted an extensive engagement process with representatives from industry and community members.

The policy respects the waste hierarchy, ensuring that waste reduction, reuse and recycling of materials will take precedence over energy recovery. This is also in accordance with the ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025 and the National Waste Policy.

You can review the Waste-to-Energy policy, consultation report and FAQs on the YourSay ACT website.

Used packaging materials

The Australian Packaging Covenant is a national regulatory framework that outlines how governments and businesses across Australia share responsibility for managing the environmental impacts of packaging. The framework is established under the National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM).

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) manages and administers the Covenant. It is agreed between the APCO, representing industry partners in the packaging supply chain, and Commonwealth, State and Territory governments.

Businesses in the supply chain that have an annual turnover of $5 million or more are liable under the Covenant. Businesses that are headquartered in the ACT have the option of becoming a Signatory to the Covenant or meeting the compliance obligations outlined in the ACT’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery (Environment Protection – Used Packaging Materials) Code of Practice 2020.

In February 2021, ACT NoWaste and the APCO held a joint webinar to assist businesses based in the ACT to understand their obligations under the NEPM. The webinar outlines criteria to determine whether a business is a liable brand owner, options for meeting obligations, the benefits of becoming an APCO member and the reporting obligations a business must undertake if they choose to be regulated by the ACT Government.

You can access the webinars here:

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