Investing in Our Natural and Cultural Heritage

	Document Index 1999-2000 Ministerial Statements Investing in our Natural and Cultural Heritage Chapter 7

WASTE MINIMISATION

Waste Management Awareness Programme

Optimising resources and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill is the major objective of the Commonwealth's waste minimisation policy. The National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy sets a national target of reducing waste going to landfill by 50 per cent by the year 2000 (based on 1990 per capita levels). The Commonwealth, working through ANZECC, has initiated and developed waste minimisation programmes in the packaging, construction and demolition (see Box 7.2), green and organic and government sectors of the waste stream The Commonwealth Government is also working towards the development of markets for material recovered from the waste stream.(See Box 7.3).

Box 7.2: Waste Management in the Construction Industry

The ANZECC WasteWise programme pioneered best practice waste reduction in the construction and demolition industry. Five major construction companies, Fletcher Construction, John Holland, Multiplex, Lend Lease (Civil and Civic) and Barclay Mowlen, participated in the first phase of the programme and were able to identify and address technical and behavioural barriers to reducing waste on construction sites. This has resulted in significant volumes of building material waste, including concrete and steel, being reused and recycled.

A report on the first phase of the programme has been published together with a handbook on techniques for reducing construction waste. Both publications are also available on Environment Australia's webs ite: <w ww.environment.gov.au/epg/wastewise/index.html>

The second phase of WasteWise broadens participation to include construction companies, designers, material suppliers, builders, demolition operators, industry associations and waste collectors.

Contact: Environment Australia: Environment Protection Group, 02 6274 1659

The most significant component of the ANZECC waste reduction programme is the development of the National Packaging Covenant. The Commonwealth has a major role in negotiations between all levels of Government and industry. The Covenant, a voluntary instrument, is based on the principle of product stewardship and will equitably share the cost of recycling across the entire packaging chain. It is expected that the Covenant will stabilise the financial aspects of kerbside collection programmes and be instrumental in developing viable markets for recovered material.

In 1997, as Covenant negotiations were under way, the packaging industry called for a regulatory safety net that would address free riding by non-signatories to the Covenant. ANZECC referred the matter to NEPC and it was announced in November 1997 that a National Environment Protection Measure for Used Packaging Material (NEPM) would be developed. The Commonwealth has been involved in the NEPM development process, including financial contributions from the Natural Heritage Trust Waste Management Awareness Programme (WMAP) (see below). A Draft NEPM and an Impact Statement were released for public consultation in January 1999. The NEPC Service Corporation will report on the outcomes of the consultation programme before June 1999.

The Commonwealth has committed, through the Natural Heritage Trust WMAP, a total of $5 million over five years from 1996-97 to address national issues in waste minimisation. These funds are being used to undertake projects in four priority waste streams: packaging; green and organic; government operations; and construction and demolition.

Green and organic waste is a major component of the total waste going to landfill. An analysis of the opportunities for and impediments to the development of markets for green and organic wastes and derived products is being undertaken currently. The study will also consider options for the more effective capture of the benefits of research and development in the organics industry.

Box 7.3: The Clean Hunter Centre

The lack of markets for recycled materials is one of the main impediments to achieving strong and viable recycling systems. A proportion of WAMP funds ($850 000) is being used to establish the `Clean Hunter Centre' a Resource Recovery Centre for the Hunter Region. The Centre, which opened in November 1998 will provide new and innovative uses for recycled and recovered materials, and develop markets for recycled products. Secondary market development activities are already progressing on glass and rubber tyre materials, and strategies have been developed for paper, wood and concrete materials. It is expected that the Centre's initiatives will also be applied in other areas of Australia.

Contact: Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group -- 02 6274 1659