Question Time

Waste Management

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister inform the chamber about the recent South Australian Waste Summit and how this will contribute to strengthening the growing waste sector?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:52): I thank the member for his most important question; he is always on the ball, this man. On Tuesday 3 March I had the great pleasure of officially opening the 2015 South Australian Waste Summit, where over 50 people and representatives from the waste industry came together to discuss how we can further strengthen the sector to generate great environmental and economic benefits for our state. At the outset, I would like to thank the staff of the EPA and Zero Waste SA for their hard work in organising the summit, and all the participants for taking time out of their busy schedules to participate.

There is no doubt, of course, that South Australia's leadership in waste management and recycling continues and is recognised around the country. Our recycling rates are amongst the world's best, but we think they need to improve even further as we work to make Adelaide the world's first carbon-neutral city through the establishment of an Adelaide green zone. Waste management and recycling will be central to achieving this ambition, alongside low emission transport and renewable energy generation.

We are well on the way to achieving real reform in this sector, and this was the perfect backdrop for the discussions during the waste summit. The summit was also timely because it coincided with the release of South Australia's Draft Waste Strategy for 2015-20 for public consultation. It became clear that there was a real consensus that we need to move the waste industry to the next level of achievement.

South Australia has effective waste management infrastructure and a culture of environmental responsibility that is second to none. However, we must continue to focus on waste reduction because, whilst we have become better at recycling, at disposing of less and reusing the waste we have, we do continue to generate far too much of it. We also have to continue to identify innovative solutions and new responses to waste management, and to more efficiently manage our scarce resources.

There is enormous economic potential arising from new technologies and the trend towards re-manufacturing, and realising economic potential from innovation in technology is the overriding ambition of this third waste strategy. The billion-dollar waste and resources sector is already driving the growth of companies developing new technologies for manufacturing products recovered from waste materials. Our aim is to help South Australian businesses become even more resource efficient, resilient and competitive, because this will help secure South Australia's economic advantage and maintain and grow our prosperity, while at the same time protecting the environment.

South Australia is perfectly placed to capitalise on overseas business opportunities by supplying our expertise, our knowledge and our technologies. More than ever before, the success and implementation of our waste strategy will require a shared responsibility across governments, businesses, industry and the community. I have no doubt that by working together South Australia will maintain its leadership in this area and its reputation as a state willing to put policies in place that will improve our health, our environment and our economy.

This was a resounding message expressed during the waste summit. I encourage anyone with an interest in this very important sector to get involved. If people care to look at the waste summit's outcomes, they could look up Zero Waste's website. I look forward to further participation with this industry as we grow it to even greater heights, promoting our experience, our technology and jobs in this important sector.