00:03This factory in Melbourne's outer south east appears to be full of soft plastics, but...
00:09We want more plastic, thank you.
00:12The facility takes truckloads of clean plastic waste from things like pallet wrap.
00:17Then it's sorted, cleaned, sorted again, and turned into plastic pellets that are sold to create new plastic things.
00:25You need a lot of fixed costs, a lot of infrastructure, a lot of years of IP.
00:30To make it work, they want about 800 tonnes of plastic a month.
00:34We could only get 200 tonnes for December, we had to put five people off.
00:39This shouldn't be a problem.
00:41In 2021, the government banned the export of all waste products, including paper, tyres and all plastics.
00:49But it granted dozens of exemptions, while local recycling industries could build up.
00:54Now, the industry wants that plastic.
00:57Too much material is going offshore, denying the capability of those who are able to process it here.
01:03The ABC can reveal those legal exemptions are now being wound back.
01:08But there's concern not enough's being done to stop waste being illegally exported.
01:14We're not seeing those rules enforced by a federal government,
01:17which means that when you invest in recycling in Australia, you're being undercut by those who skirt the rules.
01:23In a statement, the Federal Environment Minister, Murray Watt, said preventing unlawful exports of waste plastics is a priority.
01:31Through monitoring, intelligence sharing and enforcement, the department is actively ensuring compliance.
01:37The industry has a voluntary target of 20%.
01:40The industry has a voluntary target of 20%.
01:41There is no focus as much force may appreciate it.
01:44With wind mass
01:45What the Deal has is a little bit about, it isn't a jousting country.
01:46Even if it's a seront of human Honour, it Navy Watton.å¹³ho
01:46Irving is a real vaccine one in South Africa. Frame water,
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