ABA calls for compostables to be included in Queensland waste strategy

The Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) is calling for certified compostable products and soil-biodegradable mulch films to be formally recognised in Queensland’s new Less Landfill, More Recycling 2035 strategy. The association argues that clear collection and processing pathways are needed if compostable materials are to contribute to the state’s waste reduction targets.

Queensland’s strategy identifies organics and plastics as priority waste streams and is supported by A$487 million in government investment. It also establishes a target of achieving a statewide recycling rate of 65% by 2035.

Certified compostables currently absent from the strategy

According to the ABA, certified compostable products and soil-biodegradable mulch films are relevant to both priority waste streams but are not specifically mentioned in the strategy. The association says this lack of recognition means that the materials are effectively excluded from current waste and infrastructure planning.

ABA chief executive officer Martine Poulain argues that formal recognition should be the first step, followed by the development of defined pathways for products certified under AS 4736 and AS 5810. These standards cover industrially compostable and home-compostable products respectively.

Collection infrastructure is essential

The ABA is emphasising that simply allocating funding will not be sufficient. Compostable packaging needs appropriate collection and processing infrastructure to ensure that it can be diverted from landfill and managed through suitable organic waste systems.

This is particularly relevant to food packaging. Certified compostable products can potentially be collected together with food waste where appropriate systems are available, allowing organic material and associated packaging to be directed towards composting rather than landfill.

Food waste remains a major challenge

The association points to the approximately seven million tonnes of organic material that continues to be sent to landfill in Australia each year. Increasing the diversion of food and organic waste is therefore an important part of Australia’s broader waste-management challenge.

The situation is particularly significant in Queensland, where access to organic waste collection remains uneven. The City of Gold Coast, for example, reported at the Solving Plastic Waste Cooperative Research Centre Annual Partners Conference that none of its households currently had access to a food organics and garden organics service.

Compostables could support organic waste diversion

The ABA argues that certified compostable packaging can provide an additional pathway for households and councils seeking to divert food waste from landfill. Packaging that can be processed alongside appropriate organic waste could make participation in food-waste collection more convenient for consumers.

However, the environmental benefits depend on the availability of suitable collection and composting