Less waste, more resources
National Waste Policy
What's happening? - Implementation of the policy
Release of Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Management of chemical environmental risks
The Standing Council on Environment and Water has released the Council of Australian Governments' Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on options for developing and implementing nationally consistent decisions to manage the environmental risks of industrial chemicals.
This work is a key initiative under Strategy 12 of the National Waste Policy and a key element of the Council of Australian Government reform agenda on chemicals and plastics regulation. The Standing Council on Environment and Water is leading three reforms arising from this agenda, the key one being the creation of a standards-setting body to develop national environmental risk management decisions for industrial chemicals.
The consultation RIS process is intended to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss key issues and provide feedback on the reform options.
Closing date for submissions: 28 June 2013. To download a copy of the Consultation RIS and for further details on the consultation process including to how to make a submission, visit: www.scew.gov.au/strategic-priorities/chemical-environment-risks.html
A stock-take of waste-related standards, specifications and guidelines
A stock-take of waste-related standards, specifications and guidelines found more than 200 current Australian waste-related standards, specifications and guidelines.
Analysis of the Republic of Ireland's Survey System for National Waste Reporting
The Analysis of the Republic of Ireland's Survey System for National Waste Reporting identifies, documents and assesses the design features of the Republic of Ireland's national waste data reporting system.
Summary of the history and development of WasteDataFlow
The Summary of the history and development of WasteDataFlow documents data capture methodologies, datasets, data uses, system design, operational features, roles and responsibilities, costs, benefits and lessons learned.
Waste and Recycling in Australia 2011
Waste and Recycling in Australia 2011: incorporating a revised method for compiling waste and recycling data
Data Governance and Collection Best Practices Report
Data Governance and Collection Best Practices reports on the Department of Health and Ageing's data governance system, which manages the collection of data from jurisdictions in a consistent and standardised format.
Food and Garden Organics Best Practice Collection Manual
Food and Garden Organics Best Practice Collection Manual addresses each step in the consideration, planning and implementation of an organics collection scheme.
Beneficial reuse and resource recovery of waste materials
Beneficial reuse and resource recovery of waste materials: An inventory of Australian over-arching objectives and guiding principles identifies the objectives and principles that are directly related to beneficial reuse and resource recovery.
Australian waste definitions
Australian waste definitions: defining waste related terms by jurisdiction in Australia is a compilation of waste definitions compiled from the legislation, regulations, subordinate instruments, policy, and strategy documents for each jurisdiction>
Standing Council on Environment and Water Communiqué
- SCEW communiqué - Packaging on Ministers' agenda - 24 August 2012
National Waste Policy Implementation Report 2011
The National Waste Policy Implementation Report 2011 outlines progress against the 2010 and 2011 milestones set out in the National Waste Policy Implementation Plan (as at 14 October 2010). The results showcase the clear benefits of a collaborative approach across government and industry.
Biosolids snapshot
The Biosolids Snapshot collates and assesses data and information on biosolids from public sources, water utilities and information available from the Australian and New Zealand Biosolids Partnership.
Exposure draft - Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Amendment Regulation 2012
Exposure draft and associated commentary released for public comment.
Liquid Waste Assessment Report
The Liquid Waste Assessment Report was commissioned to assess the data and information on liquid waste in Australia. This study supports work on the National Waste Policy: Less Waste, More Resources.
Waste classifications in Australia - May 2012
Waste classifications in Australia - A comparison of waste classifications in the Australian Waste Database with current jurisdictional classifications expands on work done by the department in the National Waste Report 2010 and the Australian Waste Classification ?Roles in Decision Making.
National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
Second approved arrangement announced
Australia and New Zealand Recycling Platform (ANZRP) has been approved as the second organisation able to deliver services under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
- More about Co-regulatory Arrangements
- Media release - 28 March 2012
First approved arrangement announced
DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Ltd has been approved as the first organisation able to deliver services under the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme.
- Media release - 6 March 2012
Proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements
A consultation paper on the proposed model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements was released on 28 February 2012.
The consultation paper provides all stakeholders and interested members of the community the opportunity to contribute to the development of a model for accreditation of voluntary product stewardship arrangements under the Australian Government's Product Stewardship Act 2011.
Public meetings are being held in Sydney on 14 March 2012, Canberra on 16 March 2012 and Melbourne on 20 March 2012.
- Have your say - submissions open until 27 March 2012
Construction and Demolition Waste Guide
The Construction and Demolition Waste Guide - recycling and re-use across the supply chain draws on Australian case studies to highlight best practice waste management and resource recovery in the construction and demolition sector and to address a common perception that that the reuse of this type of waste is too difficult.
Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations
A national scheme for recycling televisions and computers came a step closer with the making of the Product Stewardship (Televisions and Computers) Regulations 2011 on 8 November 2011.
- More about the Regulations
- Media release - 8 November 2011
Progress on product stewardship of tyres
Progress on product stewardship of tyres An industry-government working group has developed a model for a voluntary product stewardship scheme which aims to increase resource recovery and recycling, and to reduce the negative environmental, health and safety impacts of all end-of-life tyres in Australia.
Environment ministers gave in-principle support to the model scheme at their meeting on 16 September 2011, and encouraged the tyre industry to consult with key stakeholders on the development of the guidelines for the voluntary industry-led scheme.
News from environment and water ministers
- Environment and Water Ministers' Communique - 16 September 2011
Latest news
National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme
Recycling drop off points
Scheme recycling drop off points for televisions and computers have started to roll out across Australia.
