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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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  1. Home
  2. Environment
  3. Environment protection
  4. Waste and recycling
  5. How we manage waste
  6. National Waste Policy

Sidebar first - EN - Protection

  • How we manage waste
    • Waste and Resource Recovery Data Hub
      • Data Insights
        • Waste Export viewer
        • Waste data viewer
        • RMF data viewer
    • Recycling Modernisation Fund
      • Regional and remote
    • Updating the National Waste Policy
    • Waste exports consultation RIS
    • National Waste Policy
      • 2018 National Waste Policy
      • National Waste Policy Action Plan

National Waste Policy

The National Waste Policy provides a national framework for waste and resource recovery in Australia. It also highlights the importance of working together and outlines the roles and responsibilities for everyone - businesses, governments, communities and individuals.

The policy outlines the five key principles for waste management that will enable Australia to transition to a circular economy. These include:

  • 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 first National Waste Policy was published in 2009. An updated National Waste Policy was published in 2018.

The 2019 National Waste Action Plan drives implementation of our seven ambitious targets, including:

  • Regulate waste exports
  • Reduce total waste generated by 10% per person by 2030
  • Recover 80% of all waste by 2030
  • Significantly increase the use of recycled content by governments and industry
  • Phase out problematic and unnecessary plastics by 2025
  • Halve the amount of organic waste sent to landfill by 2030
  • Provide data to support better decisions

2018 National Waste Policy

  • 2018 National Waste Policy: Less waste, more resources

Related waste resources and publications

  • 2009 National Waste Policy
  • National Waste Reports
  • Product stewardship
  • National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
  • Waste exports
  • Plastics and packaging
  • Food waste
  • Publications and resources

Recycling Drop Off Points

NATIONAL TELEVISION AND COMPUTER RECYCLING SCHEME

Recycling drop-off points map
  • Recycling Drop Off Points
 
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Last updated: 01 December 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.