AEBN’s largely supports the Productivity Commission’s views on the way in which waste is handled by government policy. However, there is too much momentum behind the current poor waste strategies, which will cost Australian’s more and may also lead to perverse outcomes where environmental harm is increased.
We strongly support the need for better data on all types of wastes and where they go. An example, of the lack of data on waste is the work AEBN has done on contaminated soils sent to landfill and the counter waste minimisation policy regulations, which encourage it. The NSW waste levy is especially criticized as well as the extremely low proportion of revenue that is returned to waste research and evaluation.
