Victorian Current Acts

CIRCULAR ECONOMY (WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING) ACT 2021

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

           Division 1--Purposes and commencement

   1.      Purposes  
   2.      Commencement  

           Division 2--Interpretation

   3.      Definitions  
   4.      What is a waste, recycling or resource recovery service?  
   5.      Objective  
   6.      Principles of waste reduction, recycling and resource recovery  
   7.      Effect of this Division  
   8.      Circular economy hierarchy  
   9.      Principle of equity  
   10.     Principle of shared responsibility  
   11.     Integrated decision-making  
   12.     Principles of transparency and accountability  
   13.     Risk management, proportionality and the precautionary principle  

           Division 3--Application

   14.     Application to the Crown  

   PART 2--HEAD, RECYCLING VICTORIA

           Division 1--Administration

   15.     Head, Recycling Victoria  
   16.     Functions of the Head, Recycling Victoria  
   17.     Powers of the Head, Recycling Victoria  
   18.     Head, Recycling Victoria subject to general direction of the Minister  
   19.     Staff  
   20.     Delegation by the Head, Recycling Victoria  
   21.     Strategic plan  
   22.     Annual report  

           Division 2--Exemptions by Head, Recycling Victoria

   23.     Power of the Head, Recycling Victoria to exempt  
   24.     Application for exemption  
   25.     Amendment or revocation of exemption  
   26.     Application for amendment of exemption  
   27.     Notice of exemption given to class of person  
   28.     Person to whom exemption applies must notify Head, Recycling Victoria if unable to comply with any condition  
   29.     Person to whom exemption applies must comply with any condition  

           Division 3--Inquiries by Head, Recycling Victoria

   30.     Inquiries by Head, Recycling Victoria  
   31.     Conduct of an inquiry  
   32.     Final report of Head, Recycling Victoria following inquiry  

           Division 3A--Market strategies and reporting

   32A.    Submission of market strategies  
   32B.    Publication of market strategy  
   32C.    Market report  

           Division 4--Declared regions

   33.     Head, Recycling Victoria may declare regions  
   34.     Procedure for declaring regions  
   35.     When declaration takes effect  

           Division 5--Engagement

   36.     Charter of Engagement  

           Division 6--Advisory committees

   37.     Advisory committees  

           Division 7--Recycling Victoria Fund

   37AA.   Recycling Victoria Fund  
   37AB.   Payments into and from the Container Deposit Scheme account  
   37AC.   Payments into and from the Waste to Energy Scheme account  

   PART 2A--VICTORIAN RECYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN (VRIP)

           Division 1--Preliminary

   37A.    Objectives of a VRIP  
   37B.    Matters included in a VRIP  

           Division 2--Inaugural VRIP

   37C.    Head, Recycling Victoria to prepare inaugural VRIP  
   37D.    Draft inaugural VRIP  
   37E.    Consultation on draft inaugural VRIP  
   37F.    First revised draft inaugural VRIP  
   37G.    Second revised draft inaugural VRIP  
   37H.    Approval of inaugural VRIP  
   37I.    Gazettal and publication of inaugural VRIP  

           Division 3--Further VRIPs

   37J.    Head, Recycling Victoria to prepare VRIP  
   37K.    Draft VRIP  
   37L.    Consultation on draft VRIP  
   37M.    First revised draft VRIP  
   37N.    Second revised draft VRIP  
   37O.    Approval of VRIP  
   37P.    Gazettal and publication of VRIP  

           Division 4--Amendments to VRIP

   37Q.    Head, Recycling Victoria to prepare amendments to VRIP  
   37R.    Draft amendments  
   37S.    Consultation on draft amendments  
   37T.    Revised draft amendments  
   37U.    Approval of amendments  
   37V.    Gazettal and publication of amendments  
   37W.    Waiver of certain requirements in this Division  

           Division 5--Review of VRIP

   37X.    Review of VRIP  

           Division 6--Miscellaneous

   37Y.    Annual VRIP progress report  

   PART 3--DATA COLLECTION

           Division 1--Reporting requirements of regular reporting entities and occasional reporting entities

   38.     Regular reporting entity must give certain information to Head, Recycling Victoria  
   39.     Direction to provide additional information—regular reporting entity  
   40.     Collection and retention of information by occasional reporting entity  
   41.     Direction to give information—occasional reporting entity  
   42.     Direction to provide additional information—occasional reporting entity  
   43.     Guidelines in relation to form and manner of information  

           Division 2--Exemption from reporting requirements

   44.     General exemption from reporting requirements  
   45.     Exemption for individual reporting entity from reporting requirements  
   46.     Renewal of exemption for individual reporting entity  
   47.     Amendment or revocation of exemption on initiative of Head, Recycling Victoria  
   48.     Application for amendment of exemption  
   49.     Reporting entity to whom exemption applies must notify Head, Recycling Victoria if unable to comply with any condition  

           Division 3--Information sharing and reporting

   50.     Head, Recycling Victoria may collect, use, disclose or publish information  
   51.     Centralised data and information system  
   52.     Publication of information and reports  
   53.     Preparation of reports by Head, Recycling Victoria  
   54.     Minister may direct Head, Recycling Victoria to prepare a report  
   55.     Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information  

   PART 4--PROCUREMENT

   56.     Procurement agreements between the Head, Recycling Victoria and councils and Alpine Resorts Victoria  
   57.     Head, Recycling Victoria may provide councils or Alpine Resorts Victoria with procurement advice and support  
   58.     Procurement guidelines  
   59.     Matters the Head, Recycling Victoria must take into account  

   PART 5--WASTE AND RECYCLING SERVICES

           Division 1--Mandatory service provision by councils

   60.     Councils and Alpine Resorts Victoria to provide municipal residual waste and municipal recycling services  

           Division 2--Mandatory sorting by entities

   61.     Entities to sort waste and recycling materials  

           Division 3--Service standards

   62.     Preparation of service standards  
   63.     Making of service standards  
   64.     Review of service standards  
   65.     Notice of proposal to make, amend or revoke service standards  
   66.     Minister must consider advice  
   67.     Minister may make, amend or revoke a service standard  
   68.     Minister may request review of service standards  
   69.     Offence to refuse or fail to comply with applicable service standards  
   70.     Agreements must incorporate relevant service standards  
   71.     Offence to refuse or fail to incorporate relevant service standards  
   72.     Head, Recycling Victoria may issue notice requiring information  
   73.     Offence to fail to comply with notice  
   74.     Duty of providers of essential waste, recycling or resource recovery services to minimise risk of failure, disruption or hinderance of service  

           Division 4--Risk, consequence and contingency plans

   74A.    Definition of responsible entity  
   74B.    Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan (CERCC Plan)  
   74C.    Notification and publication  
   74D.    Responsible entity must comply with CERCC Plan  
   74E.    Review of CERCC Plans  
   74F.    Responsible Entity Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plans (RERCC Plans)  
   74G.    Statement of assurance  
   74H.    Responsible entity must comply with RERCC Plan  
   74I.    Review of RERCC Plans  
   74J.    Information gathering  
   74K.    Guidelines in relation to risk, consequence and contingency planning  

   PART 5A--WASTE TO ENERGY SCHEME

           Division 1--Preliminary

   74L.    Definitions  
   74M.    Thermal waste to energy processes  
   74N.    Permitted waste  

           Division 2--Waste to energy licence required for thermal waste to energy processes

   74O.    Operation of thermal waste to energy facility without a waste to energy licence  
   74P.    Failure to comply with a condition of a waste to energy licence  
   74Q.    Operation of thermal waste to energy facility using banned waste  

           Division 3--Cap licences

   74R.    Head, Recycling Victoria may invite expressions of interest for cap licences or increase of allocated cap amount  
   74S.    Applications for cap licences  
   74T.    Issue of cap licences  
   74U.    Cap limit  
   74V.    Conditions on cap licences  

           Division 4--Existing operator licences

   74W.    Definitions  
   74X.    Existing operator may apply for existing operator licence  
   74Y.    Issue of existing operator licences  
   74Z.    Conditions on existing operator licences  
   74ZA.   Operator may hold both a cap licence and an existing operator licence  

           Division 5--Amendment, suspension, revocation and transfer of waste to energy licences

   74ZB.   Amendment of waste to energy licences  
   74ZC.   Head, Recycling Victoria may decrease allocated cap amount  
   74ZD.   Suspension of waste to energy licences  
   74ZE.   Immediate suspension  
   74ZF.   Revocation of waste to energy licences  
   74ZG.   Immediate revocation  
   74ZH.   Disqualification of person from applying for waste to energy licences  
   74ZI.   Transfer of waste to energy licences  

           Division 6--Miscellaneous

   74ZJ.   Fit and proper persons  
   74ZK.   Extension of submission period  
   74ZL.   Guidelines in relation to the waste to energy scheme  
   74ZM.   Transitional provisions—existing operators  

   PART 6--CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME

           Division 1--Preliminary

   75.     Definitions  

           Division 2--Administration of container deposit scheme

   76.     Functions of the Head, Recycling Victoria—container deposit scheme  
   77.     Powers of the Head, Recycling Victoria  
   78.     Delegation  

           Division 3--Scheme Coordinator

   79.     Functions of Scheme Coordinator  
   80.     Scheme Coordinator agreement  
   81.     Content of Scheme Coordinator agreement  
   82.     Appointment of Scheme Coordinator  
   83.     Ministerial directions to Scheme Coordinator  
   84.     Head, Recycling Victoria may give directions to Scheme Coordinator  
   85.     Directions to Scheme Coordinator must be published  
   86.     Scheme Coordinator must comply with direction  
   87.     Annual assessment report  

           Division 4--Network operators

   88.     Functions of network operators  
   89.     Network operator agreements  
   90.     Content of network operator agreements  
   91.     Appointment of network operators  
   92.     Ministerial directions to network operators  
   93.     Head, Recycling Victoria may give directions to network operators  
   94.     Directions to network operators must be published  
   95.     Network operator must comply with direction  
   96.     Network arrangement payments  
   97.     Payments to collection point operators  

           Division 5--First suppliers

   98.     Determination of first supplier  

           Division 6--Approval of suitable eligible containers

   99.     Application for approval as suitable eligible container  
   100.    Offence to dispose of suitable eligible containers at landfill site  
   101.    Landfill disposal exemptions  
   102.    Person must notify the Head, Recycling Victoria if unable to comply with exemption  

           Division 8--Container deposit scheme protocols

   103.    Material recovery facilities protocol  
   104.    Local government refund sharing protocol  

           Division 9--Refund markings

   105.    Offence not to have refund markings on suitable eligible containers  

           Division 10--Enforcement and offences

   106.    Offence to refuse delivery of or refund for container  
   107.    Delivery to an automated collection point  
   108.    Refund declarations and proof of identity  
   109.    Offence to claim refund for containers not subject to container deposit scheme  
   110.    Offence to supply beverage without supply arrangement with Scheme Coordinator and container approval  
   111.    Enforcement of Scheme Coordinator agreements and network operator agreements  

           Division 11--Miscellaneous

   112.    Guidelines  
   113.    Competition and Consumer Act and Competition Code  

   PART 7--ENFORCEMENT

           Division 1--General offences

   114.    Offence to fail to keep records and information  
   115.    Offence to give false or misleading information  
   116.    Offence to conceal information  

           Division 2--Information gathering notices

   117.    Head, Recycling Victoria may serve information gathering notice  
   118.    Form of information gathering notice  
   119.    Extension of time under information gathering notice  
   120.    Court orders  

           Division 3--Show cause notices

   121.    Show cause notices  
   122.    Representations about show cause notice  
   123.    Ending show cause process without further action  
   124.    Further action after show cause process  

           Division 4--Improvement notices

   125.    Improvement notice  
   126.    Offence to fail to comply with improvement notice  

           Division 5--Prohibition notices

   127.    Prohibition notice  
   128.    Offence to fail to comply with prohibition notice  

           Division 6--Court orders

   129.    Court orders  

           Division 7--Enforceable undertakings

   130.    Head, Recycling Victoria may accept enforceable undertaking  
   131.    Enforcement  
   132.    No criminal proceedings while enforceable undertaking in effect  
   133.    Proceedings following withdrawal of enforceable undertaking  
   134.    No further proceedings if enforceable undertaking is complied with  
   135.    Contempt of court  

           Division 8--Adverse publicity orders

   136.    Adverse publicity order  

           Division 9--Civil penalties

   137.    Civil penalties  
   138.    Civil penalty order  
   139.    Proceeding for civil penalty order after criminal proceeding  
   140.    Criminal proceeding during proceeding for civil penalty order  
   141.    Criminal proceeding after proceeding for civil penalty order  
   142.    Evidence admitted during proceeding for civil penalty order  
   143.    Conduct contravening more than one civil penalty provision  
   144.    Multiple contraventions of civil penalty provisions  
   145.    Multiple proceedings for civil penalty order to be heard together  
   146.    Jurisdictional limit of Magistrates' Court does not apply to civil penalty order  
   147.    Recovery of pecuniary penalty  

           Division 9A--Monetary benefit orders

   147A.   Monetary benefit order  
   147B.   Head, Recycling Victoria may issue protocol for determining monetary benefit  

           Division 10--Infringement notices

   148.    Power to issue infringement notice  

           Division 11--Authorised officers

   149.    Appointment by Head, Recycling Victoria of authorised officers  
   150.    Identification of authorised officers  
   151.    Directions in respect of authorised officers  
   152.    Authorised officer may request name and address  
   153.    Authorised officer may give directions  
   154.    Other authorised officers may assist  
   155.    Offence to obstruct authorised officer  
   156.    Offence to assault or threaten authorised officer  
   157.    Offence to impersonate  

           Division 12--Powers of entry and inspection

   158.    Authorised officer may enter and inspect any place or premises  
   159.    Announcement on entry  
   160.    Persons assisting authorised officer  
   161.    Powers on entry  
   162.    Authorised officer may require production of documents  
   163.    Authorised officer may require information or answers  
   164.    Report to be given about entry and inspection of place or premises  

           Division 13--Search warrants

   165.    Authorised officer may apply for search warrant  
   166.    Issue of warrant  
   167.    What may a search warrant authorise?  
   168.    Announcement before entry with warrant  
   169.    Copy of warrant to be given to occupier  

           Division 14--Return and forfeiture of seized things

   170.    Return of seized things  
   171.    Forfeiture of seized things  

           Division 15--Audits

   172.    Appointment of auditors  
   173.    Functions of an auditor  

           Division 16--Miscellaneous

   174.    Persons who may prosecute  
   175.    Written statement of authorised officers to be evidence  
   176.    Conduct of employee, agent or officer taken to be conduct of body corporate  
   177.    Criminal liability of officers of bodies corporate—accessorial liability  

   PART 8--GENERAL

           Division 1--VCAT review

   178.    Which decisions are reviewable  
   179.    Reviews by VCAT  

           Division 2--Supplementary provisions

   180.    Power of Minister to delegate  
   181.    Minister may issue guidelines  
   182.    Review of operation of Act  
   183.    Regulations  

   PART 9--SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

           Division 1--General

   184.    Definitions  
   185.    Application of Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984  
   186.    Abolition of WRR Groups  
   187.    Transfer of executive officers and Chief Executive Officer of WRR Group  
   188.    Transfer of WRR Group staff  
   189.    Superseded references  
   190.    Declared regions  
   191A.   Transitional provisions—Environment Legislation Amendment (Circular Economy and Other Matters) Act 2023  

           Division 2--Environment Legislation Amendment (Circular Economy and Other Matters) Act 2023

   191B.   Validation of Scheme Coordinator agreement  
   191C.   Validation of network operator agreements  
           SCHEDULE 1
           ENDNOTES