Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan

The Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan supports Victoria’s transition to a stronger and more resilient circular economy that can withstand future shocks and stressors.

Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan 2025

The CERCC Plan 2025 comes in to force on 30 May 2025.

To view the full document download the CERCC Plan 2025.

Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan 2025 PDF 2.86 MB (opens in a new window)

Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan 2025 accessible Word 2.74 MB (opens in a new window)

Key components of the CERCC Plan 2025

The summaries below outline the information contained in each section of the CERCC Plan.

Open all

Introduction

The Introduction section outlines:

the purpose and scope of the CERCC Plan 2025, including how the plan is prepared and the introduction of measures that responsible entities must take
the importance of system resilience, defined as strategic coordination, sector-wide risk planning, increased government visibility and improved management practices
the concept of a circular economy, focusing on reducing environmental impact and promoting economic growth through efficient resource use
the legislative context of the CERCC Plan, including the obligations of government and industry under the CE Act
the role of Recycling Victoria in supporting the development of the circular economy and its contribution to the global movement towards sustainable development by addressing four of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development goals.

Context

The Context section covers:

sector gains in relation to the management of risks, such as the introduction of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic)
examples of sector challenges and emergencies that have affected the sector in recent years. This includes inflationary pressures, an increase in battery driven fires, the threat of serious IT disruptions and organics contamination by asbestos
the economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal and technological risks highlighted in the World Economic Forum Global Risk Report 2024 relevant to the sector in Victoria
national trends and emerging issues in Australia’s circular economy, highlighting Australian government measures to enhance local processing and recycling capacity, and to minimise waste through packaging redesign
issues relating to performance or supply within the Victorian circular economy market of waste management services. This includes:

facility fires
challenges obtaining materials to manufacture kerbside bins
securing supply of feedstock
an increase in administrative costs and missed opportunities due to differences between jurisdictions
contamination of feedstock
the need to increase the recovery of textiles
sector planning for sufficient infrastructure for all services
the risk of future contamination of services from hazardous materials.

government action towards risk mitigation, such as progress on the new National Circular Economy Framework and the Victorian Government response to significant emergency management events
responsible entity progress towards sector risk mitigation, including the engineering, administrative, technological and people related controls in place to manage the serious sector risks identified in the CERCC Plan 2024.

Victorian waste, recycling and resource recovery sector risks

The section outlines the risk assessment process that Recycling Victoria used to develop the CERCC Plan. It notes that:

Recycling Victoria completed a review of CERCC Plan 2024 to inform preparation of CERCC Plan 2025
the CERCC Plan 2025 provides an updated sector risk profile in response to the changing circumstances impacting the sector over the previous 12 months and the insights and opportunities detailed in RERCC Plans.
Recycling Victoria assessed the 6 serious risks identified in 2024 and identified a new risk in response to challenges affecting affordability in the sector, and a reflection of material streams that may not currently be commercially viable. Table 2 to 8 in this section provides detailed descriptions of the 7 serious risks identified through the CERCC Plan risk assessment process. These are:

contamination
external threats
planning
social acceptance
internal threats
economic shocks and stressors
commercial viability in the market. This section also includes a summary of the actions that responsible entities have proposed to take in response to risks identified in the CERCC Plan 2024.

Finally, this section lists measures that responsible entities must consider and undertake to address the serious risks identified in the CERCC Plan 2025. The measures relate to planning, external and internal threats, commercial viability in the market and contamination.

This is a new feature for CERCC Plan 2025 as it was informed by the review of the inaugural RERCC Plans which were submitted post CERCC Plan 2024 publication.

Engagement and support

This section provides details of the consultation that Recycling Victoria conducted to inform the development of the CERCC Plan 2025.

This section also outlines Recycling Victoria’s support for responsible entities to meet their risk management obligations, and the Victorian Government’s commitment to policies and programs that will reduce the sector’s vulnerability to risks.

Appendices

The appendices contain key information such as:

waste service types prescribed as essential under the regulations (Appendix 1)
definition of a responsible entity (Appendix 2)
total amount of waste managed in Victoria, enabling entities to self-assess and determine their responsible entity status in relation to their share of the Victorian market (Appendix 3)
the risk management, assessment and treatment processes used to inform the CERCC Plan 2025 (Appendix 4).

CERCC Plan 2024

From 30 May 2025, the CERCC Plan 2025 comes into force.

To view the inaugural CERCC Plan 2024 – Edition 1 (no longer in force), download the document below.

Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan 2024 PDF 2.64 MB (opens in a new window)

Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan 2024 Word 2.71 MB (opens in a new window)

Updated 3 June 2025

Economic Growth Statement

Mini vic.gov.au

Circular Economy Risk, Consequence and Contingency Plan

On this page