Plans to recycle resilient flooring waste from home renovations were given a boost this week, with the ACCC announcing it will authorise a new scheme with ResiLoop.
Resilient flooring is floorcoverings made from natural mineral fillers combined with materials such as vinyl, linoleum or rubber. Approximately 60,000 tonnes of resilient flooring waste is generated each year in Australia, with virtually all waste going to landfill.
The ACCC is proposing to grant authorisation for ResiLoop* to establish and operate a voluntary, industry-led scheme that will collect and recycle resilient flooring waste.
According to ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver, this initiative is unique and likely to result in environmental benefits by diverting resilient flooring waste from landfill to instead be reused.
“Research and development into effective uses of resilient flooring waste, and pricing that better reflects the cost of disposal, is likely to promote proper disposal and greater recycling of resilient flooring under the Scheme”, she said.
The scheme will be funded by a product levy of no more than 15 cents per square metre and applied to certain categories of resilient flooring products.
“The levy is unlikely to materially impact competition and represents a minimal proportion of the total retail cost of resilient flooring for consumers”, Carver said.
The ACCC has granted interim authorisation for ResiLoop to commence the waste product scheme, which will allow them to secure a foundation customer.
*ResiLoop is an initiative of The Australian Resilient Flooring Association (ARFA) to research and design an Australian resilient flooring product stewardship scheme. The project received funding from the Australian Government through the National Product Stewardship Investment Fund.
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