Bingo Supports Victorian Governments 10 Year Waste Policy

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BINGO supports Victorian Governments 10-year waste policy

BINGO welcomes Victorian Government’s 10-year policy and action plan for waste and recycling

Government commitment to increase the use of recycled materials in state construction projects
Landfill levy to increase from $65.90 per tonne to $125.90 within three years
Plan aligns with BINGO’s strategy in Victoria

BINGO Industries Limited (BINGO) has welcomed the release of the Victorian Government’s 10-year policy and action plan for waste and recycling by Victoria’s Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, The Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP.

The policy and action plan, titled “Recycling Victoria; A new economy” outlines the Government’s plans to reform the state’s waste management and recycling system.

For BINGO, a highlight of the plan is an increase in the landfill levy from $65.90 per tonne to $125.90 per tonne within three years, starting with an increase to $85.90 per tonne on 1 July 2020 and increasing $20 per tonne each year for the next two years.

BINGO’s Managing Director & CEO, Daniel Tartak, said that BINGO supports the Victorian Government’s efforts to help close the loop and create a circular economy in Victoria.

“We applaud the efforts of the Government, and Minister D’Ambrosio in particular, to take the bold steps necessary to affect real change and develop a recycling economy in Victoria,” Mr Tartak said.

“We believe the increase in the landfill levy will have an immediate impact when it is introduced on 1 July 2020. It will further encourage recycling, optimise the diversion of waste from landfill and promote the development of a truly circular economy; promote investment in recycling technology, and move Victoria towards international best practice diversion rates.

“The staged increase in the levy also works well for our customers, who can now plan ahead for this and other structural changes such as the new EPA Act and increased safety and compliance regulations which will also impact the sector,” he said.

Mr Tartak said the policies, commitments and actions outlined in the plan align perfectly with BINGO’s strategy in Victoria.

“We’ve invested more than $100 million over the past three years in the acquisition and development of recycling assets in anticipation of many of the initiatives outlined in this plan.

“We recently received approval to operate our advanced recycling facility in West Melbourne for 24 hours per day, seven day per week, so we’ll be ready to accommodate the increased volumes we expect to receive from 1 July onwards.

“We’ve been advocating for these changes for some time. We believe they will help drive the state towards a circular economy and we’re pleased to see these become reality,” he said.

For BINGO, other highlights of the plan include:

A commitment by the Government to help create sustainable end markets for recycled products by actively seeking opportunities to increase the use of recycled materials in state construction projects (further details to be provided in mid-2020)
Increased resources to monitor, investigate and prosecute illegal behaviour
Stricter data collection from waste and recycling companies to improve transparency and accountability for what happens to waste
Support for the development of waste to energy facilities
The establishment of the Recycling Victoria Infrastructure Fund to attract investment in recycling infrastructure

BINGO has advocated for many of the initiatives outlined above in its 2019 submission to the Victorian Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into Recycling and Waste Management, in its appearance before the Committee, and in its response to the Victorian Government’s Circular Economy Issues Paper.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Government to help achieve its goal of recovering at least 80% of the state’s waste by 2030,” Mr Tartak said.