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Publications
Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council
November 1992
On 6 November 1992, the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) announced the adoption of this National Strategy for the Management of Scheduled Waste. The Strategy has been developed as part of the wider National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy, objectives of which are to minimise waste, use resources more efficiently and manage wastes better when they are generated.
Scheduled, or hard to get rid of, waste is an important but small component of the waste stream in Australia. Scheduled waste was previously called intractable waste but is now scheduled waste in recognition of it being a part of the larger waste stream. To tackle the problem, the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) agreed to develop a National Strategy for the Management of Scheduled Waste
In July 1991, ANZECC considered a draft Strategy which was based on recommendations of a joint Taskforce. It promoted use of a high temperature incinerator in New South Wales to dispose of scheduled waste. Before the Strategy could be adopted, new information on alternative technologies became available. Acknowledging concerns expressed by industry and environmental groups, ANZECC released the draft Strategy for public comment in October 1991. In response, individuals and organisations made 69 written submissions. To assess these comments, consultants (Ernst & Young and Camp Scott Furphy Pty Ltd) were appointed.
On 10 July 1992, an Independent Panel, established to investigate the extent and production of scheduled waste and alternative disposal technologies, recommended a variety, of specific disposal technologies be used. Based on this recommendation, ANZECC announced the decision to abandon the proposal to establish a centralised high temperature waste disposal facility on that date. Nevertheless, ANZECC. recognised these technologies would take time to be established on an adequate scale and that criteria and arrangements would have to be established to assess the new technologies.
The consultants who assessed the public comments had just been appointed when this decision was made. Their final report included a revised draft Strategy, which was reviewed by a Peer Group of eminent scientists. Following agreement to various revisions, the Peer Group supported the revised draft Strategy developed by the consultants.
The revised draft Strategy was considered by an Advisory Committee with representatives of government and non-government agencies and organisations. Further revisions were made to the Strategy on the advice of the Advisory Committee. The final Strategy took account of the findings of the Independent Panel and included consideration of a range of other relevant economic, social and environmental factors.
The National Strategy for the Management of Scheduled Waste is available for downloading as a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view it.
If you are unable to access this document, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.