We recently officially launched the decoupling policy paper, the first-ever policy position paper by Australia New Zealand Biochar Industry Group (ANZBIG). We’ve also integrated key concepts and regulatory proposals into circular carbon webinars for state regulators and the biochar industry, as well as presentations on circular economy and carbon stewardship at the Biochar Expo 2025.
This policy paper examines the necessity of separating regulation of linear energy from waste (EfW) (full combustion and incineration) from more circular and regenerative thermal treatment systems for biochar, bioenergy, renewable fuels and chemicals (such as pyrolysis and gasification).
The paper emphasises the positive implications for action on climate change, circular economy, air quality and waste management, among other factors. It proposes a modified Resource and Energy Recovery Hierarchy to accompany the conventional Waste Hierarchy commonly used to assess ‘higher order use’ of resources, which builds upon precedent concepts for circular liquid fuels in the Queensland Energy From Waste Policy by additionally recognising circular carbon in solid form (e.g. biochar) and gas form (e.g. syngas & derivatives). This is the initial version of a living document on which we’ll seek further stakeholder engagement and refinement.
We’re proud to have written this in conjunction with Anthony Reid and Craig Bagnall of Catalyst Environmental Management, with input from other colleagues in ANZBIG’s Policy & Regulatory Working Group (PolReg)