Industry Updates for Queensland's Waste Management and Materials Recovery Sector
Waste Recycling Industry Association (QLD) inc (WRIQ)
Representing waste, resource recovery & circular economy businesses - we are essential for community & environment.
EVENTS
WRIQ Business Breakfast on Operational Compliance, 18 August
Register now for the next Business Breakfast investigating environmental operational compliance and safeguards. The session will explore the following issues:
·??????What to do if the regulator takes enforcement.
Please register online
NEWS
PFAS: New US bill to protect waste & compost industry from liability claims
At the beginning of May, proposed legislation was introduced in the US Congress that would protect some solid waste management and composting facilities from liability claims if the EPA designates certain PFAS compounds as hazardous substances. The Resource Management PFAS Liability Protection Act, seeks to exclude composters and solid waste facility operators from liability for certain "costs and damages" associated with the release of certain PFAS into the environment.
The bill affects owners and operators of covered composting operations and solid waste management facilities including landfills and transfer stations, as well as other facilities defined in the Solid Waste Disposal Act. These operations would still have to comply with the necessary permitting requirements and would not be protected if they were found to be "grossly negligent or intentionally negligent in the discharge, disposal, management, processing, transportation or storage" of PFAS. The Resource Management PFAS Bill is part of a series of five bills, each of which is designed to protect specific industries from unintended liability or unintended costs. Read more at WMW.
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New Report Shows the Value of the Recycling Sector
The Australian Council of Recycling (ACOR) has released an economic report that demonstrates the immense economic value of the recycling sector. The recycling sector connects with almost every household, business and government entity in the country, either directly or indirectly – processing over 40 million tonnes of material in the last financial year.
The Economic Contribution of the Australian Recycling Industry, authored by Australian Economic Advocacy Solutions, showed that over the past year, the recycling sector contributed almost $19?billion in economic value and provided over 94,000 jobs in Australia. Recycling jobs also paid a livelihood over ten thousand dollars higher than average Australian weekly earnings, providing a high-value workforce in an expanding industry.
The recycling sector’s growth over the past decade has outstripped Australia’s economic growth by more than 1.5 times – while employment within the sector expanded four times faster than national employment growth
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New Industry Development Strategy features Circular Economy
On 19 May the Queensland Government released the Queensland new-industry development strategy (as attached). It identifies the emerging industries associated with decarbonisation. These industries use Queensland’s traditional strengths and existing industries to capitalise on global trends. They’re industries that will create prosperity for Queenslanders. The six industries identified in the strategy to help seize the opportunities of global decarbonisation are:
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The Department is developing regionally specific infrastructure and land use plans aligned with the economic and social aspirations of each region. The creation of these plans will complement the work of a newly established?Local Economic Opportunities Network, which will work with local communities to assist with economic transition. They will also work with communities to prepare place-based regional transformation strategies to guide the implementation of the $200 million?Regional Economic Futures Fund (REFF).
The Queensland Government is seeking to partner with companies in the identified industries to harness the opportunities.?You can find out more about the opportunities for your business and subscribe for updates from the department
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Business Growth Fund Now Open
The Business Growth Fund?grants program has been developed for high-growth businesses who can accelerate growth, drive Queensland’s economy and employ more Queenslanders. The program is a great opportunity for small and medium-sized high-growth businesses to access up to $75,000 to scale-up for business success and seize their next growth opportunity.?It provides funding for eligible businesses to buy specialised equipment, enabling them to unlock growth potential, increase production, expand their workforce and move them into the next stage of growth.
Expressions of Interest for Round 5 opened at 9.00am (Monday 8 May 2023) and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 2 June.?Review the Guidelines and FAQs here.?
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CONSULATIONS
Sustainable Liquid Fuel Strategy
Queensland is accelerating uptake of sustainable liquid fuels through development of the state’s sustainable liquid fuels strategy, a commitment under the?Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan.
The strategy will increase use of sustainable liquid fuels as we transition from fossil-based liquid fuels to next-generation future fuels, hydrogen and electrification. The increased use of sustainable liquid fuels will play a significant role in achieving Queensland’s emissions targets of 30 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
The Queensland Government have released an?options and opportunities paper?to seek input from a broad range of stakeholders ranging from fuel users, fuel producers, and sellers across many sectors.?The paper is the first step in developing the strategy and seeks feedback on the opportunities, options, priorities, and actions informing the strategy’s development.
The Queensland Government is keen to hear from all fuel users, fuel producers, and fuel sellers to understand what’s most important for Queenslanders and for fuel-related industries.
To have your say, visit?https://lnkd.in/gmVBjrkV. Provide feedback to [email protected] by 23 August.
Review of Electrical Safety Act Released
The Final Report of the Review of Queensland’s Electrical Safety Act 2002 is now available. The report along with a Discussion Paper has been released for public consultation, feedback on the Discussion Paper is open until 27 June 2023 and feedback on the Final Report is open until 15 August 2023. The final report includes recommendations on safety risks associated with electric battery and hydrogen powered vehicles, hydrogen-based electricity generation and storage technologies.