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    Fact sheet - Waste Plan

    Waste made up 5%
    of Tasmania’s emissions in 2022 (excluding LULUCF)

    Over $23 million existing investment in the sector, plus ongoing investment  through the landfill levy

    5 new commitments
    in the Plan

    The Tasmanian Government has prepared the first five-year Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan for the waste sector, in consultation with business, industry and the community.

    The waste Plan brings together new and existing projects in the sector that will help us reduce emissions and build resilience to the changing climate.

    Focus areas of the Plan

    1. We will reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill.
    2. We will increase recycling and recovery of high-emissions waste streams.
    3. We will support the transition to a circular, low emissions economy.
    4. We will build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
    5. We will drive action through partnerships and collaboration.

    In 2023-24, government staff met with key industry and business stakeholders to develop the Plan. The draft Plan was released in late 2023 for public comment. Feedback from consultation has been used to prepare the Plan.

    Key new actions

    • Collaborate with partners to consider emissions reduction and resilience in waste policies and projects.
    • Partner with not-for-profit organisations to deliver waste education in schools.
    • Conduct waste audits to assess the effectiveness of current kerbside collection systems, improve systems, and develop targeted education materials.
    • Support the collection of food waste from hospitality businesses.
    • Partner with peak bodies to support them to plan for circular economy opportunities.

    The waste Plan also includes future funding priorities to guide action over the next five years.

    These new commitments are in addition to the extensive work already underway by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania and the Waste and Resource Recovery Board, including through the Tasmanian Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2023-2026.

    Snapshot of the waste sector

    The waste sector is essential to the Tasmanian community. The sector manages the state’s household, commercial and industrial waste and recycling, and the treatment of wastewater.

    The waste sector is undergoing significant change, driven by developments in Australia and overseas, and shifts in community expectations and concerns around waste management and the greenhouse gas emissions from waste. While waste management traditionally deals with the disposal stage in the lifecycle of products, there is now a move to a circular economy, which aims to maximise the value and use of materials and resources, at every stage of the lifecycle.

    Greenhouse gas emissions

    Tasmania’s waste sector accounts for around 5 per cent of Tasmania’s total emissions, excluding the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector. Most emissions come from the decomposition of organic waste in landfills and the treatment of wastewater.

    Find out more about Tasmania’s greenhouse gas emissions from waste and other sectors in our annual greenhouse gas report

    A graph showing the sources of waste emissions in 1990 compared 2022. The graph shows that overall, waste emissions have fallen from 1990 to 2022. Emissions from solid waste disposal have fallen from 349 kt CO2-e in 1990 to 269 kt CO2-e in 2022. Emissions from wastewater treatment and discharge have fallen from 219 kt CO2-e in 1990 to 119 kt CO2-e in 2022. Emissions from biological treatment of solid waste have grown from 1 kt CO2-e in 1990 to 6 kt CO2-e in 2022.A pie chart showing that waste made up 5 per cent of Tasmania’s total emissions in 2022, excluding the LULUCF sector.

    Climate-related risks and opportunities

    Climate change and the transition to a low emissions economy bring both risks and opportunities for Tasmania’s waste sector. For example, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events will increase physical risks to landfill sites and wastewater treatment plants. These events can also result in damage to infrastructure and property, requiring management by the waste sector.

    There is an increasing expectation from markets and consumers for businesses to manage their resources in ways that are environmentally and socially responsible. These changes bring challenges and risks, but if managed appropriately, can also bring opportunities for new infrastructure, and for Tasmanian businesses to improve market access, increase productivity, reduce costs and explore new revenue streams.

    Find out more about the Tasmanian Government’s action to build resilience to the impacts of climate change in our response to Tasmania’s Risk Assessment for Climate Change 2024