National Waste Policy Action Plan

The National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019 outlines Australia's strategy to reduce waste, increase recycling, and transition to a more circular economy by 2030, with a primary focus on plastics and organic waste, while also addressing other waste streams. This plan aims to address challenges in waste management and resource recovery through coordinated action across all levels of government, businesses, and communities. The 2023 Progress Report provides an update on the achievements and challenges faced in implementing the Action Plan.
The plan sets seven national targets to be achieved by 2030:

1. Ban the export of waste plastic, paper, glass, and tyres
2. Reduce total waste generated by 10% per person
3. Achieve 80% average resource recovery rate from all waste streams
4. Significantly increase the use of recycled content by governments and industry
5. Phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics
6. Halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill
7. Provide comprehensive, economy-wide, and timely waste data

While the primary focus of the plan is on plastics and organic waste, the plan includes actions related to recycling of minerals and metals:

• In Target 3 (80% average resource recovery rate), the plan mentions  developing "a common approach to restrict the disposal of priority products and materials in landfill, starting with lithium-ion batteries, materials collected for the purpose of recycling, and e-waste."
• The plan acknowledges the need for waste management strategies in various industries, including mining.
• The plan supports The Battery Stewardship Scheme, a voluntary auditing and accreditation program for batteries, launched by the Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) in February 2022.

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