Packaging waste
NSW Signatory to Australian Packaging Covenant
The Australian Packaging Covenant is a voluntary scheme to reduce the environmental impacts of consumer packaging across Australia. It's focus is on sustainable packaging design, recycling of used packaging and reduction of litter from packaging.
It establishes a collaborative framework for effective life cycle management of consumer packaging and paper products among all sectors of the packaging supply chain, consumers, collectors, reprocessors and all spheres of government.
Together with businesses and other governments in Australia, the NSW Government is a signatory to the Covenant and must fulfil certain obligations, which include submission of a current Action Plan and regular reporting against key performance indicators via an Annual Report.
The National Environmental Protection Measure (Used Packaging Materials) 2010 requires all States and Territories to provide and enforce regulations to underpin the Covenant and create a level playing field for businesses. This ensures that those who voluntarily participate in the Covenant are not disadvantaged by those that seek to avoid their responsibilities. In NSW, the Covenant is supported through Part 5B of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005.
Page last updated: 01 July 2011
