GECA Opens Public Consultation for Revised Waste & Resource Collection Services Standard
Stakeholders invited to help shape the future of sustainable waste and resource collection across Australia.
GECA is inviting feedback on the next version of its Waste & Resource Collection Services standard during a 60-day public consultation period running from 1 July to 30 August 2026.
The revised standard is designed to recognise waste and resource collection services that demonstrate leading environmental, operational and social performance, while supporting greater transparency and confidence across Australia's waste and resource recovery sector.
Public consultation is a key part of GECA's standards development process. It ensures our standards remain practical, credible and aligned with current industry practices, emerging expectations and evolving environmental priorities.
About the standard
The Waste & Resource Collection Services standard applies to organisations that collect and transport waste and recyclable materials from residential, commercial and industrial customers. It provides an independent framework for assessing services against criteria covering:
Waste and resource management planning and continual improvement
Risk and hazard identification and management
Collection, transport and contamination prevention and management
Chain of responsibility and material tracking requirements
Effective engagement and collaboration with waste generators and lawful downstream recovery, processing, recycling and disposal facilities
Waste and resource recording and reporting
Environmental management systems and the management and reduction of environmental impacts
Staff training and competence evaluation
Workplace health and safety, human and labour rights and social responsibility
Organisations that achieve certification to the standard can demonstrate their commitment to responsible waste and resource management practices, transparent reporting and continual performance improvement.
Why your feedback matters
GECA welcomes input from anyone with an interest in sustainable waste management, including:
Waste and resource collection companies
Local government
Resource recovery and recycling organisations
Industry associations
Procurement professionals
Government agencies and regulators
Environmental organisations
Customers and other interested stakeholders
Your feedback will help ensure the revised standard remains robust, practical and reflects current industry expectations and best practice.
How to participate
The public consultation will run from 1 July to 30 August 2026.
To participate:
Download the draft Waste & Resource Collection Services standard.
Review the proposed criteria.
Record your feedback using the GECA Standards Comment Template (recommended).
Email your completed comments to standards@geca.org.au before 30 August 2026.
While comments may be submitted in any format, we encourage stakeholders to use the GECA Standards Comment Template to help us efficiently review, consolidate and respond to feedback. The template includes three comment categories:
General (Ge): Overall observations, suggestions or questions about the standard.
Editorial (Ed): Typographical errors, formatting issues, grammar or wording improvements.
Technical (Te): Comments relating to the technical requirements or criteria within the standard.
All submissions will be carefully considered by GECA before the standard is finalised.
Have your say
Independent, transparent standards play an important role in driving continual improvement across Australia's waste and resource recovery sector.
We encourage all interested stakeholders to review the draft and contribute to the consultation. Your expertise and feedback will help ensure that the Waste & Resource Collection Services standard continues to recognise environmental leadership and support better outcomes for people, the planet and the circular economy.
If you have any questions about the consultation process or would like clarification on any aspect of the draft standard before submitting your comments, please contact the GECA Standards team at standards@geca.org.au.