National Waste Policy Action Plan
The 2018 National Waste Policy: Less waste, more resources provides a framework for collective, national action on waste management, recycling and resource recovery to 2030.
The National Action Plan presents seven targets and associated actions to implement the 2018 National Waste Policy. This approach is driven by considering waste as a resource and applying circular economy principles. National targets include:
- banning the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres
- reducing total waste generated per person by 10% by 2030,
- achieving 80% average resource recovery rates from all waste streams by 2030;
- significantly increasing the use of recycled content by governments and industry;
- phasing out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025; and
- halving the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030.
National Plastics Plan 2021
The National Plastic Plan 2021 outlines our approach to increase plastic recycling, find alternatives to unnecessary plastics and reduce the impact of plastic on the environment.
National Food Waste Strategy 2017
The National Food Waste Strategy provides a framework to support collective action towards halving Australia’s food waste by 2030. The four priority areas are:
- Policy support: Policies are supportive of food waste avoidance, reduction and repurposing
- Business improvement: Improvement and adoption of technologies, processes and actions to avoid and reduce food waste
- Market development: Development of markets to support the repurposing of food waste
- Behaviour change: Practices and attitudes towards avoiding and reducing food waste are adopted and sustained
National Packaging Targets 2025
In 2019, in response to China’s National Sword policy, the Australian government established four National Packaging Targets to be achieved by 2025.
- 100% of all Australia’s packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025 or earlier
- 70% of Australia’s plastic packaging will be recycled or composted by 2025
- 30% average recycled content will be included across all packaging by 2025
- Phase out single-use plastic packaging through design, innovation or introduction of alternatives.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has been working with government and industry to develop relevant strategies to work towards these National targets:
Our Packaging Future (March 2020) - the strategic framework outlining how Australia will deliver the 2025 National Packaging targets.
National Composting Packaging Strategy (June 2021) - outlines the actions to be taken collectively to ensure that certified compostable packaging is used appropriately and helps to facilitate a circular economy for packaging and food waste.
Phasing out exports of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres – 'Response strategy to implement the August 2019 agreement of the Council of Australian Governments 2020'
The response strategy presents a coordinated and ambitious package to implement the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) waste export ban. The export ban includes waste plastic, paper, tyres and glass.