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Waste management is transforming. The old model that relied on landfill as the primary method of waste disposal is on its way out, replaced by a new model that aims to avoid the production of waste in the first place or reduce, reuse, recycle and recover waste when it cannot be avoided.
The shift in waste management away from relying on landfills as the primary method for disposal of waste is consistent with Objective 3 of the South Australia’s Strategic Plan 2007 — Attaining Sustainability — which includes the target of reducing waste to land fill by 25% by 2014 and aligns with the implementation of the Waste Hierarchy model of waste management (Figure 1).
In addition, South Australia’s Waste Strategy 2005-2010, primarily implemented by Zero Waste SA, includes five strategic objectives aimed at reforming waste management in South Australia. These, combined with targets for specific waste streams, aim to achieve the state’s vision of South Australia being clean, green and sustainable.
‘Waste to resources’ is an approach that involves waste minimisation and the consideration of wastes as potential resources in preference to disposal.
EPA’s role
The EPA’s role in achieving sustainable waste management by promoting environmentally sound practices by all South Australians is primarily done through the Environment Protection Act 1993 (the Act), however there is a range of other legislation relevant to the waste and resource recovery industry.
EPA’s Goals
The EPA’s goals in relation to the waste and resource recovery sector are outlined in:
- Section 10 – Objects of the Act
- To promote the principles of ecologically sustainable development… including avoiding, remedying or mitigating any adverse effects of activities on the environment… by programmes to encourage… reduction, re-use and recycling of material and natural recourses, and waste minimisation… by regulating… activities, products, substances and services that, through pollution or production of waste, cause environmental harm and the generation, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste.
- To require persons engaged in polluting activities to progressively make environmental improvements… as such improvements become practicable through technological and economic developments
- EPA strategic plan 2007-2010 (508KB PDF)
- Sustainable use of resources
- EPA Board’s Waste to Resources Subcommittee Report
(290KB PDF)
- To minimise the risk of environmental harm occurring
- To support the highest and best, safe available use of secondary materials in accordance with the waste management hierarchy.
The EPA, through the waste management reform project, is developing legislation and guidance documentation on disposal alternatives to ensure they are conducted in a scientifically sound, sustainable and beneficial manner which will not create an unacceptable risk of harm to the environment or human health.
More generally, to achieve its waste to resources management goals for South Australia, the EPA:
- Administers the Act, including
- Developing licence and DA conditions for facilities within the waste and resource recovery sector
- Implementing the Used Packaging Materials legislation that aims to reduce the volume of packaging send to landfill
- Implementing the provisions dealing with beverage container deposits and the prevention of environmental harm.
- Supports hazardous waste management programs and services such as the Hazardous Household Waste Depot to promote safe and sustainable chemical disposal
- Drafts guidelines and develop programmes and resources to promote and support SA best practice in areas including:
This page was last modified 13-01-2009
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