Waste, water and energy management company Veolia has outlined several major developments in Australia’s environmental regulatory policies that are on the cards following this year’s federal election.
Labor’s environmental targets include achieving net zero emissions by 2050, maintaining the national 82 percent renewable electricity target by 2030, and making major investments in renewable infrastructure and affordable home battery storage systems.
The company says it supports these goals through its 2024-2027 ‘GreenUp’ strategy, which seeks to increase investment in Australia’s circular economy.
It notes that the government’s goals can be achieved through measures including a harmonised higher landfill levy across the states, support for renewable energy, and timely approval processes, among others.
Focus on productivity
The federal government has announced a Productivity Summit to be held in August.
Veolia says events such as this summit are key as the industry is seeing a fundamental shift in how waste is perceived ― not as a burden, but as a valuable resource. This transformation, it says, is driven by innovation, the creation of skilled jobs and opening new markets for recovered materials.
It reports that by turning waste into valuable resources, the sector is already reducing the nation’s reliance on raw materials while creating new revenue streams and business opportunities.
Carbon reduction
The Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme provides incentives for businesses to reduce carbon emissions from their activities.
Participants can earn ACCUs for every tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions stored or avoided by an approved project.
Recently, the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee consulted on a new method for landfill methane capture. It also reviewed the method for diverting waste from landfills to alternative treatment, aiming to ensure these ACCU Scheme methods maintain ongoing integrity and reflect evolving best practice.
Veolia says it creates ACCUs from capturing methane at its landfills and from landfill diversion and waste treatment activities.
It adds that any reforms to the ACCU Scheme methods must continue to incentivise emissions reduction in the waste sector, otherwise abatement costs will result in higher gate fees, an increase in costs to local government and households, and a risk of methane emissions going to the atmosphere.
NSW’s new legislation around batteries
The Product Lifecycle Responsibility Act has passed NSW Parliament, enabling the NSW Environment Protection Authority to increase producer accountability for products placed on the market.
The first product to be addressed is lithium-ion batteries, due to a fire risk from their incorrect disposal. Veolia says fires resulting from batteries thrown into garbage bins pose an immediate and significant threat, with the waste industry estimating more than 10,00 battery-related fires occur each year.
Mandatory Battery Stewardship Scheme will be developed, which will require brand owners to fund collection, recovery and safe disposal, including increased battery drop-off options for householders.
While batteries are the initial products targeted, the Bill provides a framework for future regulation of other products that are hard to recycle or have significant environmental consequences at end-of-life, including packaging, textiles or solar panels.
NSW addresses the ‘waste crisis’
In light of the identified looming ‘waste crisis’ triggered by dwindling landfill capacity for Greater Sydney, the NSW government has released the draft first chapter of the NSW Waste and Circular Infrastructure Plan, which aims to prevent Greater Sydney from running out of landfill capacity in 2030.
The draft plan includes recommendations to streamline planning processes to extend the lifespan of existing landfills and consider energy-from-waste development.
Veolia says any new landfill capacity for waste from the Sydney region is a highly valuable asset for greater Sydney communities.
It adds that future expanded landfill capacity must be carefully utilised in order to maximise its lifespan and provide contingency for unforeseen surges in demand, such as waste from natural disasters. It also calls for enabling the development of Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facilities through appropriate frameworks and policies.
Queensland and South Australia’s waste strategies
The Queensland government has sought feedback on its new draft Queensland Waste Strategy 2025-2030: Less Landfill, More Recycling.
The draft strategy aims to implement practical measures to boost recycling and reduce the environmental impacts of waste, without adding additional costs to businesses and households.
Queensland will also review its waste disposal levy in 2025-2026, including assessing its effectiveness and determining the potential for increased inter-state waste transport to Queensland if NSW increases its waste levy.
Green Industries South Australia, meanwhile, has released the draft Accelerating SA’s transition to a circular economy: South Australia Waste Strategy 2025-2030, which will include a focus on food waste, single-use plastics, regulatory waste reforms, education and behaviour change, market development and remanufacturing.
While supporting both drafts, Veolia says it will continue to advocate for national harmonisation of regulation such as for landfill levies and extended producer responsibility schemes, including for packaging.
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