Dive Brief:
- The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) recently announced the formation of a "trans-Pacific Collaboration Alliance" with the Australia's Waste, Recycling Industry Association of Queensland (WRIQ), as reported by Recycling Today.
- The two groups signed a memorandum of understanding to share resources, knowledge and insight around the private waste and recycling industry from their respective coverage areas.
- WRIQ represents more than 90 organizations in Australia's northeastern state, including small family-owned operations and multi-national companies.
Dive Insight:
Regulatory details may differ on the two continents, but the challenges of running waste and recycling businesses in a time of evolving commodity markets and other developing trends are the same.
"There are a wide range of areas where both organizations can learn from the experiences of the industry in both countries to advance best practices across all areas of operations of our member companies, including improving safety for our industry’s workers in both countries," said Rick Ralph, CEO for WRIQ, in a statement.
As international discussions around climate change, marine plastic and circular economy principles continue, the waste industry is taking more of a global approach. In addition to work being done by the International Solid Waste Association, the United Nations Environment Programme has been active on multiple fronts and an international partnership convened by the World Resources Institute recently debuted a universal food waste measurement standard.
