Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling)

Bill passes through State Parliament

The VWMA is pleased to advise that the Environment Legislation Amendment (Circular Economy and Other Matters) Bill 2022 passed in Parliament last week. It is expected that the Bill will receive Royal Assent next week, or the week following, at which point it becomes an Act.  

This is an important milestone in continuing to deliver the Victorian Government’s circular economy reforms, supporting Victoria’s transition to a circular economy and making waste, recycling and resource recovery services more effective, accountable, and consistent with community expectations.  

This Bill will provide the Head, Recycling Victoria with additional powers and functions to deliver on this reform, which include:  

– establishing a thermal waste to energy scheme that will cap the processing of “permitted” waste.

– introduction of a risk, consequence and contingency planning framework, and the power for Recycling Victoria to develop market strategies,

– The requirement for Recycling Victoria to prepare an annual market report, and a consolidated, single Victorian Recycling Infrastructure Plan to replace the current eight documents made under the Environment Protection Act 2017. 

This Bill will also deliver amendments to the Environment Protection Act 2017 to enhance legal certainty regarding certain powers, functions and processes.   

If you would like to read more, you can find the explanatory memorandum here.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me or the Legislative Reform team at circulareconomy.legislation@delwp.vic.gov.au.