Media Release
9 August 2021
Australia’s peak retail body, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has welcomed today’s joint announcement from the Australian and NSW governments about a $24 million investment in 22 projects that will increase recycling capability across NSW.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the joint funding will provide NSW retailers with more options to further improve recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
“While managing the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 continues to be the highest immediate priority for our sector, sustainability remains a pressing concern and it’s important we keep an eye on the future and keep progressing our goals,” Mr Zahra said.
“For the ARA, this means a sustainable recovery where we establish a solid foundation for sustained economic growth while creating positive community and environmental outcomes. These joint government-industry projects will help our members continue to increase the amount
of recyclable materials they divert from landfill and drive the innovation we need to solve some of our industry’s biggest challenges, like single-use coffee cups.”
These projects across NSW will support broader efforts to enhance Australia’s recycling infrastructure, such as the Federal Government’s $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund and the NSW Government’s $356 million investment in its waste and plastics plan, announced in June 2021.
“While all levels of governments will invest heavily in waste and recycling infrastructure in coming years, many of our largest members have already implemented measures to become more sustainable. Today’s announcement helps to create the market conditions they need to achieve their ambitious targets for the future,” Mr Zahra said.
“The ARA looks forward to working with government and industry to support the implementation of these initiatives, as our sector starts on our journey towards the net-zero, circular economy of the future.”
Source: Australian Retailers Association.