Steel scrap is a sovereign, increasingly scarce and valuable resource which should stay in Australia, the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) will submit in an in-person presentation to a Federal Senate inquiry focussing on the federal government´s waste reduction and recycling policies, scheduled for September 20. 

The ASI will argue that restrictions on the export of unprocessed scrap steel would be consistent with the government’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to help create and maintain sustainable local manufacturing capability and additional jobs in Australia. 

The ASI has been advocating strongly to the federal government since 2022 to prohibit the export of unprocessed steel scrap. The ASI contends that unprocessed steel scrap is environmentally unfriendly because the scrap incorporates other banned wastes. Unprocessed scrap does not have the non-metallic components – such as glass, plastic or rubber – separated from it. The ASI further believes that the transport process required to export scrap adds to overall carbon emissions. Furthermore, exporting reduces the already severely-diminished stock of scrap in Australia, thus forcing the country to import scrap for its steelmaking needs.

Written submissions by the ASI and others to the inquiry closed on August 5, with the Senate inquiry expected to report back by November 22 this year.