Waste executive discusses circular economy needs in QLD
Alison Price, Chief Executive Officer of the Waste Recycling Industry Association Queensland, breaks down a trailblazing new study bringing the state’s waste workforce strain into focus. For years,. . .
Alison Price, Chief Executive Officer of the Waste Recycling Industry Association Queensland, breaks down a trailblazing new study bringing the state’s waste workforce strain into focus. For years, Queensland’s waste and recycling industry has been talking about workforce shortages. Businesses have consistently told us they struggle to attract drivers, machinery operators, mechanics and other frontline workers, while also finding it difficult to retain experienced staff and develop future leaders. The challenge has never been recognising these issues. It has been proving their scale. Until recently, much of the conversation relied on anecdotal evidence. Individual experiences painted a familiar picture, but there was little industry-wide data to quantify the problem or guide long-term solutions. That has now changed. Supported by the Queensland Government, WRIQ recently completed Queensland’s first Economic Contribution and Workforce Study for the waste and recycling sector. The study provides the first comprehensive evidence of the industry’s workforce, recruitment challenges and future capability needs. The findings confirm the industry’s enormous contribution to Queensland. Waste and recycling directly employs around 8,748 people, supports more than 16,000 jobs across the broader economy, contributes approximately $2. 7 billion to Gross State Product and manages more than 9. 8 million tonnes of material each year. But the report also highlights growing workforce pressures. More than half of surveyed businesses reported shortages in critical operational roles, particularly drivers, machinery operators and labourers. Regional employers face even greater challenges as they compete with mining, construction and other industries for skilled workers. The issue extends well beyond replacing retiring employees. Queensland’s population is projected to grow by around 1. 6 million people over the next two decades, meaning millions of additional tonnes of waste and recyclable material will require collection and processing. At the same time, waste and recycling operations are becoming more technologically advanced, requiring workers with increasingly sophisticated technical skills. The report shows that workforce capability is now just as important as workforce availability. Many businesses rely on internal, non-accredited training because existing vocational education pathways do not fully reflect the operational realities of modern waste and recycling businesses. As the industry evolves, more consistent and accessible training pathways will be essential. Encouragingly, the sector is already taking action. Representing more than 100 organisations responsible for around 97 per cent of Queensland’s waste collections, WRIQ has been working with industry to strengthen workforce capability through initiatives including Workforce Connect and the Waste and Recycling Academy Queensland (WRAQ). These programs focus on practical, industry-designed training, workforce attraction and leadership development. While these initiatives are delivering positive results, the report makes one thing clear: they will need to be scaled if Queensland is to meet its circular economy ambitions. Building a sustainable workforce will require long-term investment in training, stronger career pathways, leadership development and programs that attract new generations into the industry. Perhaps the most significant outcome of the study is that, for the first time, industry, government and training providers have a shared evidence base from which to act. Queensland’s waste and recycling industry has never lacked resilience or innovation. What it has lacked is data. Now that we have it, we have the opportunity to move beyond describing the problem and focus on building the skilled workforce that will underpin Queensland’s circular economy for decades to come. For more information, visitwww. wriq. au