Paper and board excluded from export waste ban

In a boon for printers, lobbying from The Real Media Collective (TRMC) has seen the government exclude paper and carton from its export waste ban for the next four years at least.

Printers are used to selling their waste paper to local mills. But, the tightening of local capacity with closures, and a ban on exporting waste, meant printers may have had to pay local landfill sites to dispose of it.

However, TRMC won a reprieve during a late-night Zoom meeting with Trevor Evans, the minister of waste reduction, sealing the deal.

The Australian government is moving to ban waste going overseas. This follows revelations that much of what the public thought was going for recycling instead has ended up in dumps in poor countries. And, some of the waste ends up in the world's oceans, harming wildlife and impacting the natural ecosystem.

Unlike plastic packaging, fibre-based product, such as paper and board, is easily recyclable. Following TRMC's intervention, the minister has okayed the export.

Kellie Northwood, CEO of TRMC said, “Our lobbying was a success, and I am thrilled to announce following the news last night that printed paper waste will be excluded from the export ban until 2024.

“Between now and 2024, TRMC – in partnership with APIA (the Australian Paper Industry Association) – will work with industry for solutions on paper sorting and conversion solutions, which will be presented to government for consideration of inclusion beyond 2024. More information will be issued about the project to be undertaken in the coming months.

“If any of you hold strong packaging credentials in your companies, please do not hesitate in reaching out. We are pulling together a taskforce to develop a strong solution for industry to government.”