 |
 |
| |
Review of waste strategy and policy in NSW
The NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 recognises the need to reduce waste generation. Under the Act, the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Strategy sets out ways to achieve this.
The NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (now the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, OEH) estimated that in 2008–09, the amount of hard waste (not counting CO2 emissions and dairy wastes, for example) generated in NSW (16.3 million tonnes) equated to 2329 kg per person. Of that, 9.5 million tonnes was recycled (58%) and 6.7 million tonnes (42%) went to landfill.
The WARR Strategy has increased recycling (“resource recovery”) in NSW, conserving resources and protecting our environment: since 2002–03, the amount of materials recycled in NSW has increased by 80%, and scarce landfill space has been saved. But more needs to be done.
Under the Act, the WARR Strategy must be reviewed periodically. The most recent review was released in December 2010. It examined the implementation of the WARR Strategy and found that although NSW is close to meeting the targets set for resource recovery, further efforts are needed to close the gap. To this end, the review proposed 23 enhancements to current waste policy and strategy.
Findings
The good news is that the construction and demolition industry has almost achieved its targets of keeping materials out of landfill. However, more work is needed to achieve separation of household wastes and commercial and industrial wastes at source.
For example, household waste bins (with the red lid) on average still contain over 50% compostable materials and nearly 40% recyclable materials such as paper and metals. Worse, 78% of commercial and industrial waste is made up of mixed materials and must be sent to landfill.
The enhancements are summarised below:
- Set up best practice systems to achieve waste separation at home.
- Set targets for separation and diversion of household and business wastes.
- Promote waste avoidance and separation at home and in business.
- Educate the populace on harmful wastes that must be separated out.
- Collect accurate data from waste processors.
- Improve reporting of progress by OEH.
- Improve the options for waste disposal.
- Establish resource recovery systems for commercial and industrial organisations similar to the household three-bin system.
- Use waste levy revenue to fund improved waste management.
- Relax limits on the use of “alternative waste treatment” products on non-mine land (such as agricultural land).
- Establish an expert panel to assess the suitability of materials for exemptions.
- Support the generation of energy from waste.
- Encourage innovation and investment in waste management and resource recovery.
- Foster discussion between government and industry about waste management.
In summary
The companion publication, Reducing Waste: Implementation Strategy 2011–2015, identifies five areas in which to achieve waste reduction goals:
- Making it easier for households to separate and recover their wastes.
- Making it easier for businesses to separate and recover their wastes.
- Reducing or removing problem wastes to improve resource recovery and produce environmentally safe recyclable materials.
- Facilitating investment in waste infrastructure.
- Reducing litter and combating illegal dumping.
Further reading
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Waste avoidance and resource recovery in NSW.
Download as PDF |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
