Tasmanians can have their say on ways to reduce organic waste and improve climate change resilience as part of a draft emissions reduction and resilience plan for Tasmania’s waste sector.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roger Jaensch, said the draft Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan outlined ways to reduce Tasmania’s waste emissions and build resilience to climate-related risks.
“The waste sector accounts for around five per cent of Tasmania’s total emissions each year,” Minister Jaensch said.
“The majority of these emissions come from sending organic waste, such as food and garden waste, to landfill.
“Sending organic waste to landfill not only creates methane, but also wastes valuable resources and costs households and businesses thousands of dollars each year through wasted food.”
Minister Jaensch said the Emissions Reduction and Resilience Plan ties in well with the circular economy work that is underway with the Waste and Resource Recovery Board and their Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy.
Tasmania has a target to reduce the organic waste sent to landfill by half by 2030.
The waste reduction target will play an important role in ensuring Tasmania achieves its goal of maintaining net zero emissions, or lower, from 2030.
“I encourage anyone with an interest in improving the way we manage our organic waste and ensuring our waste management systems are resilient to climate-related risks to comment on the draft plan,” Minister Jaensch said.
“This is part of the Rockliff Liberal Government’s long-term plan to preserve our environment and do what matters for all Tasmanians.”
Consultation on the plan closes on 19 December, 2023.
