The 2024 National Waste Policy Action Plan sets out where Australia must focus its efforts to transition to a safe circular economy. It was developed in line with the 2018 National Waste Policy. The 2024 Action Plan identifies the waste material types and waste streams where the greatest gains can be made against the targets in 3 priority areas:
1) Government legislation, regulation, policies, standards and guidelines.
2) Investment in infrastructure, procurement and funding support.
3) Market development and support through innovation, reducing barriers and generating demand.
Australian Government and state and territory governments have started to develop implementation plans to support the Action Plan.
The National Waste Policy Action Plan has 7 targets to reduce Australia’s waste and improve our recovery of resources.
1) Ban on export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres, commencing in the second half of 2020.
2) Reduce total waste generated in Australia by 10% per person by 2030.
3) 80% average resource recovery rate from all waste streams following the waste hierarchy, by 2030.
4) Significantly increase the use of recycled content by governments and industry.
5) Continued phase out of problematic and unnecessary plastics.
6) Halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill for disposal by 2030
7) Make comprehensive, economy-wide and timely data publicly available. This will support better consumer, investment and policy decisions.