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Waste strategies, policies, codes, reports, studies and audits

The ACT manages waste through a variety of strategies and policies including the ACT Waste Management Strategy and the ACT Circular Economy Strategy.

ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025

Developed in consultation with the community, the ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025 (PDF 2.0 MB) sets a clear direction for the management of waste in the ACT. It builds on the previous strategy - No waste by 2010 (PDF 132.7 KB).

The strategy highlights that reducing waste requires a collective effort and that waste should be viewed as a resource. It provides a framework for sustainable resource management, with broad actions needed to achieve a waste-free society including:

  • community commitment
  • avoidance and reduction
  • resource recovery
  • residual waste management
  • creative solutions.

Read the ACT Waste Management Strategy (2.0 MB)

ACT Waste Feasibility Study

The Waste Feasibility Study was established in mid-2015 to identify a pathway towards achieving the ACT’s waste management targets outlined in the ACT Waste Management Strategy.

Read the ACT Waste Feasibility Study (PDF)

ACT Circular Economy Strategy 2023-2030

The ACT Government has developed the Territory’s first Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan which sets the ACT’s circular economy vision through to 2030. The development of a circular economy responds to concerns about resource scarcity, pollution of the environment and the economic limits of patterns of production and consumption. The aim of a circular economy is to keep materials in use for as long as possible, reducing the need to use natural resources.

The strategy and action plan has 6 key themes:

  1. food and organics
  2. built environment
  3. consumer goods
  4. emerging and problematic waste streams
  5. creating space to showcase our commitment to the circular economy
  6. procurement, skills, innovation and governance.

Read the ACT Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2030 (PDF 7.8 MB).

National Waste Policy

The 2024 National Waste Policy Action Plan sets out where Australia must focus its efforts to transition to a safe circular economy. The 2024 Action Plan identifies the waste material types and waste streams where the greatest gains can be made against the targets in 3 priority areas:

  1. Government legislation, regulation, policies, standards and guidelines.
  2. Investment in infrastructure, procurement and funding support.
  3. Market development and support through innovation, reducing barriers and generating demand.

The National Waste Policy Action Plan: ACT Implementation Plan 2025 (PDF 1.5 MB) supports the 2024 Action Plan and will accelerate progress towards the national targets and help Australia’s transition towards a circular economy.

ACT Waste-to-Energy Policy 2020-2025

The Waste-to-Energy Policy was developed to inform industry and community about the energy recovery activities that are permitted in the ACT. The development of a waste-to-energy policy was a recommendation of the Waste Feasibility Study.

The policy prohibits the use of thermal technology to recover energy from waste within the ACT. It also provides waste operators with alternatives to landfill disposal through non-thermal means.

The policy respects the waste hierarchy, ensuring that waste reduction, reuse and recycling of materials will take precedence over energy recovery. This is also in accordance with the ACT Waste Management Strategy 2011-2025 and the National Waste Policy.

You can review the Waste-to-Energy policy, consultation report and FAQs on the YourSay ACT website.

Waste Management Development Control Code

The Development Control Code for Best Practice Waste Management in the ACT 2019 (PDF 4.4 MB) and Waste and Recycling Management Plan (PDF 1.6 MB) assists development professionals to incorporate mandatory and best practice waste management principles into the design construction and operation of new developments.

To calculate residential waste and recycling allocations, please use the allocation calculator.

Any proposed deviation from the requirements of this Development Control Code must be approved in writing by Place Coordination prior to the submission of a Development Application.

From February 2019, green waste bins are mandatory for new developments.

Read the Waste Management Development Control Code (PDF 4.4 MB)

Used packaging materials

The Australian Packaging Covenant is a national regulatory framework that outlines how governments and businesses across Australia share responsibility for managing the environmental impacts of packaging. The framework is established under the National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure 2011 (NEPM).

The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) manages and administers the Covenant. It is agreed between the APCO, representing industry partners in the packaging supply chain, and Commonwealth, State and Territory governments.

Businesses in the supply chain that have an annual turnover of $5 million or more are liable under the Covenant. Businesses that are headquartered in the ACT have the option of becoming a Signatory to the Covenant or meeting the compliance obligations outlined in the ACT’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery (Environment Protection – Used Packaging Materials) Code of Practice 2020 (PDF).

Information outlining criteria to determine whether a business is a liable brand owner, options for meeting obligations, the benefits of becoming an APCO member and the reporting obligations a business must undertake if they choose to be regulated by the ACT Government can be found here:

Mugga Lane Landfill Review

Reports, audits and research

Related links

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

To see how we are building stronger relationships with the Traditional Custodians of the ACT view the Reconciliation Action Plan.