Evidence base report: recycling and resource recovery infrastructure

This interim report shares our findings on how to better recycle and recover resources in Victoria. 

We look at the recycling and resource recovery sector to examine what has been working and what has not been working. We also look beyond Victoria to high performing resource recovery sectors across the world.   

Our early work shows there are ways to create a strong, sustainable recycling and resource recovery industry. There is also a range of successful policy approaches that could work in Victoria. 

This report informs our final report and advice to government.  

Key early findings 

• Develop a clear, overarching policy framework including recycling targets and waste-to-energy. 
• Develop an education campaign to help prevent recycling and organics from ending up in landfill. 
• Look at incentives for business and industry to improve their recycling performance. 
• Help councils implement consistent methods for sorting and collecting recycling to reduce contamination. 
• Separate food and garden waste from other materials to get more out of our organic waste. 
• Improve planning, locating and protecting waste management sites. 
• Work with the Commonwealth and other states on a consistent approach to reducing packaging and single use plastics. 
• To make it easier to use recycled materials, remove obstacles and update government procurement rules.