Read a snapshot of some of the policy and regulatory updates relevant to the environment in the January to March 2025 quarter across Australia and New Zealand.
Only got 60 secs? Here’s a quick recap
- National Waste Report released
- Recycling and Waste Reduction Act under review
- Progress continues on PFAS
- Productivity Commission reports on circular economy
- NSW reviews Energy from Waste Framework
National Waste Report
In January 2025, the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy and Water released the 2024 National Waste and Resource Recovery Report. The report shows that Australians have produced 5.6 million tonnes more waste overall in 2022-2023 compared to 2016/17. The amount of organic waste going to landfill has declined from 5.7 million tonnes to 5.4 million tonnes a year, however this falls short of the 2030 target of reducing the amount of organic material going to landfill by half (down to 2.8 million tonnes). While there was a slight upward trend in overall recycling rates, these trends were well below what is needed to meet the Government’s target of 80% recycling by 2030. Plastic remains a major waste issue, with 87.5% of plastics still going to landfill despite recent bans on problematic plastics implemented in most states and territories.
Veolia’s observations
The data shows that there is more work to be done, and this provides an opportunity to re-invigorate the waste and resource recovery sector. Veolia believes that moving Australia's 2030 targets from ambition to reality requires scalable, policy driven, system wide change that creates a fertile space for investment in recycling infrastructure, new technologies, and growth of the markets that use recovered resources. Policy priorities should include higher and nationally consistent waste levies, accelerated development approvals for waste infrastructure, robust global markets for recycled commodities, and economy-wide product stewardship legislation.
Recycling and Waste Reduction Act under review
The Australian Government is undertaking a review of the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020, the main Commonwealth legislation that supports action on the circular economy, resource recovery and waste management. The Act regulates the export of waste and provides a framework for product stewardship. The review aims to make recommendations to improve the efficiency and impact of the Act in addressing current and future circular economy needs, resource recovery and waste challenges.
Veolia’s observations
Veolia supports the government’s commitment to transitioning Australia to a more circular economy in which materials are used efficiently throughout their lifecycle. Australia can be successful in lowering cost, building a scalable circular economy and delivering on the community’s desire for diversion from landfill and greater recycling. To achieve this, globally proven actions should be implemented, including introducing product stewardship and allowing continued global trade in high quality Australian recycled commodities. Read Veolia’s 5-point plan for achieving Australia’s waste targets and circular economy goals here.
Progress continues on PFAS
PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and related substances are found in many household products, including cookware and fire-retardant coatings. The Senate’s Select Committee on PFAS has released its interim report, which includes recommendations to re-appoint the Committee and actions to address historic PFAS contamination in NSW. The final report is due in August 2025. The updated PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP 3.0) was also released in March 2025. This sets Australia’s guidance and standards on the investigation, assessment and management of PFAS wastes and contamination. New or additional guidance is provided on investigation and risk assessment, remediation of contaminated land, re-use of resource recovery products and re-use of PFAS-contaminated biosolids.
Veolia’s observations
The Veolia group has recently launched Beyond PFAS, our end-to-end set of PFAS treatment solutions. Using our global expertise, Veolia operates a number of PFAS treatment and management technologies in Australia, offering an end-to-end solution for PFAS-impacted water and soil. We use thermal desorption to treat PFAS contaminated soils, and accept low level PFAS-impacted soil into some of our appropriately licensed landfills. Veolia employs technology to safely treat targeted PFAS in waste streams, however these complex chemicals must be considered at the source: that is, the product design and manufacturing stage.
Productivity Commission reports on circular economy
Following public consultation in 2024, the Productivity Commission released its interim report Australia’s Circular Economy: Unlocking the opportunities in March 2025. The report finds that Australia’s circular economy progress has been slow, and proposes reform directions including reducing regulatory barriers, improving co-ordination between industry and government, harmonising regulation and addressing information gaps. Six priority areas for improving materials productivity are identified: the built environment, food and agriculture, textiles and clothing, mining, vehicles, and electronics.
Veolia’s observations
Veolia is investing in Australia’s sustainable future, with our 2024-2027 ‘GreenUp’ strategy targeting increased investment in Australia’s circular economy. With the right policies in place - including a higher landfill levy, extended producer responsibility, adoption of energy-from-waste and efficient approvals processes - Veolia believes Australia can achieve its 2030 waste targets and see the sustainable impacts of those investments amplified into the future. However, if private sector investment is going to have a meaningful impact on circular economy outcomes, there needs to be some form of government support at scale, as there has been, for example, for renewable energy.
NSW reviews Energy from Waste Framework
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has identified that Greater Sydney will run out of landfill capacity by 2030, and that critical residual waste infrastructure is urgently needed, including Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facilities. The EPA is reviewing the NSW Energy from Waste Framework, with an options paper identifying potential changes. These include adding further precincts as allowable locations for EfW, changing the definition of thermal treatment, and allowing the use of waste to replace gas fuels.
Veolia’s observations
Energy from Waste (EfW) is proven technology and is widely used overseas, including more than 450 plants operating in Europe. Veolia operates more than 65 energy recovery facilities globally. EfW needs to form part of a series of waste treatment solutions, and offers a robust solution to cater for future waste volumes that can’t otherwise be recycled. Whilst this review of the NSW Framework may serve to expand opportunities for EfW in NSW, the issue of the suitability of air emission standards remains unresolved, representing a significant impediment to timely implementation of EfW in NSW. Read Veolia’s 5 key steps to achieving successful EfW development in Australia here, as shared by our CEO, Richard Kirkman.
- Further Reading -
Veolia signs transformational data-driven waste contract with Defence
Veolia’s advanced depackager unwraps a low food waste solution for Woolworths
Veolia solution crushes Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal waste costs by 50%