Australia to phase out mixed paper exports in 2024

The Government of Western Australia is calling for an expression of interest to grow local scrap processing capacity for Western Australia’s 80,000 metric tons of mixed paper and cardboard scrap. According to the Western Australia’s Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s website, the government is seeking grants and new programs to build domestic infrastructure to support recycling in the region.

The Council of Australian Governments’ agreement March 13 confirmed a timetable for phasing out scrap exports and building domestic infrastructure to support reuse and recycling. Mixed paper and cardboard will be subject to the national export ban starting July 1, 2024. 

According to the Council of Australian Governments, there will be some exemptions on exports for paper and cardboard that is either sorted to a single type with low contamination levels, processed into pulp and processed with other materials into a product ready for final consumption. 

The Government of Western Australia reports that its expression of interest will be open on the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation’s website until July 27. It plans to consider all proposals that will contribute to a more competitive and sustainable domestic market for mixed paper and cardboard collection, reprocessing and sale. In addition, funding for proposed projects may be made available from the state government and matched by the Australian government for one or more selected projects.