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INVESTMENT CONTINUES TOWARDS THE TRANSFORMATION OF QUEENSLAND’S WASTE INDUSTRY TO AN INNOVATIVE, EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

The Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Policy Directive was one of the first orders of business for council in 2020. The directive remains a strong focus of this council to ensure progress is made to protect our community and deliver best practice waste and resource recovery solutions.

Read more about the Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Policy Directive on Shapeyouripswich.com.au

The waste industry has expanded significantly in Ipswich through landfill developments, without due consideration of the impacts on residents, or the future outlook of South-East Queensland and Queensland waste policy and strategy.

In 2019-2020, Ipswich accounted for 39 per cent of Queensland’s total 4.76 million tonnes of waste. This share increased to 52 per cent in 2020-2021, 46 per cent in 2021-2022 and 47 per cent in 2022-2023. While the volume of waste received within the local government area is predominately influenced by factors beyond council's control, Ipswich City Council is actively enhancing its advocacy and engagement with the State Government through the Waste and Circular Economy Transformation to drive meaningful change.

Since 2020, the efforts of Ipswich City Council and its dedicated residents have led to a nearly 5% annual decrease in household waste sent to landfill. With the implementation of the Resource Recovery Strategy and the continued commitment of Ipswich residents, recycling and organic waste recovery are steadily improving.

Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Factsheet (PDF, 158.2 KB)

COMMITMENT REQUIRED

Partner with the Queensland Government to expedite the introduction of legislation to compel waste operators to in-vessel the composting of organic waste.

Ipswich City Council remained committed to addressing significant odour nuisance issues and holding those waste operators responsible for these activities accountable.

As a result, in 2023/2024, the Queensland Government initiated a review of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld). This led to legislation into State Parliament to strengthen the powers of the independent environmental regulator to deal with environmental harm.

Read more:

New laws to protect communities from environmental impacts - Ministerial Media Statements

About Waste and Circular Economy Transformation

Why is this project important?

Benefits to Ipswich:

  • Economic innovation and opportunities
  • Improved environmental outcomes
  • Improved residential amenity
  • New employment opportunities.

If we do nothing:

  • Ipswich continues to receive disproportionate amounts of waste
  • Liveability and amenity increasingly impacted
  • Negative environmental outcomes
  • Reduced health and wellbeing outcomes.

Success to date

Council adopted the Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Directive to drive best practice, collaborate with industry and government, and secure positive outcomes for the community. Since 2020, council has made significant progress in key area across the Directive including:

  • Resource Recovery Strategy and a Resource Recovery Implementation Plan 2021-2031
  • Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan 2023 - including planning for two new Southern and Western Resource Recovery Centres
  • Logan, Ipswich and Redland City Councils (SEQ sub-regional waste alliance) to build a regional Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
  • On-demand large item kerbside collection service
  • Illegal Dumping and Litter Prevention Strategy
  • New draft Planning Scheme for Ipswich, Ipswich Plan 2024
  • Encouraged the Queensland Government to expedite the introduction of stronger legislation Queensland Organics Strategy and Action Plan, e-Products Action Plan, and Environmental Protection Act.

More information on the Waste and Circular Economy Transformational Directive is available at Shapeyouripswich.com.au/waste-circular-economy

As part of the implementation of this Directive, council established the Joint Taskforce with the Queensland Government to facilitate cross-government collaboration.

What's next

  1. Review joint objectives with new Waste and Recycling Industry of Queensland (WRIQ) Chief Executive Officer and continue to pursue Memorandum of Understanding or equivalent with WRIQ on behalf of Council together with other actions to support industry to strive towards and achieve best practice;
  2. Continue to review and develop contract specifications that drive industry best practice through council’s contracted waste operations and disposals;
  3. Continue efforts towards joint implementation of the South-East Queensland Waste Management Plan;
  4. Subject to its approval by council and the responsible Minister, implement Ipswich Plan 2024 and review the Resource Recovery and Waste Activity Code within 12 months of its commencement;
  5. Continue proactive compliance programs with waste industry operators and consider a specific compliance resource to focus on waste issues;
  6. Finalise mining void analysis with the Queensland Government with a focus on determining if there are remaining voids that are a safety risk to the community or require some form of intervention;
  7. Consider introduction of incentives for circular economy industry businesses in Ipswich;
  8. Investigate opportunities to use resource recovery and waste management and disposal contracts to benefit the city;
  9. Work with WRIQ to advocate for a portion of waste levy revenue to be available to the Ipswich community for re-investment;
  10. Continue to advocate to the Queensland Government to expedite the introduction of legislation to compel waste operators to in-vessel the composting of organic waste.

ARTICLES AND RESOURCES