The National Packaging Covenant
Program Overview
The Government of Western Australia re-signed the National Packaging Covenant (the Covenant) in July 2005 following an extensive review process and development of the strengthened Covenant. The new Covenant takes effect from 15 July 2005 and expires 30 June 2010.
As a signatory the Government is committed to a partnership approach between industry, local and state governments and consumers to ensure optimal resource conservation and recovery of consumer packaging and paper in households and away-from-home premises such as workplaces/commercial premises, industrial premises and public places.
The Covenant aims to improve the total environmental performance and lifecycle management of consumer packaging and paper by pursuing specific environmentally focused performance goals.
Unlike the original Covenant, specific overarching targets have been established to measure the achievement of each of the goals identified. These include:
- an increase in the amount of packaging recycled from 48% (2003 baseline) to 65% by 2010
- a reduction in the amount of ‘non-recyclable’ packaging sold
- no increase in the amount of packaging disposed of to landfill.
Each Covenant signatory must prepare and implement an Action Plan to reduce waste and increase resource recovery. Annual progress reports on performance and achievements are also required. Non-signatories or ‘free-riders’ will be subject to the National Environment Protection Measure for Used Packaging Materials which is implemented in W.A. via the Environmental Protection (NEPM-UPM) Regulation 2007. This is to ensure Covenant industry signatories are not exposed to unfair competition from brand owners who choose not to sign the Covenant.
For further information contact the secretariat and view the dedicated website: National Packaging Covenant
Publications and Resources
The National Packaging Covenant Document
The National Environmental Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure
Environmental Protection (NEPM-UPM) Regulation 2007
NPC project: Southern Metropolitan Regional Council Weekly collection of recyclables trial final report
The feasibility of establishing a boutique bottle manufacturing facility in Western Australia
The Waste Authority commissioned ACIL Tasman to undertake an economic feasibility study into the establishment of a boutique bottle manufacturing facility in Western Australia with the intent of providing information on the viability such a facility and its potential to create a local market for recycling post consumer glass. The results of the report indicate that the modelled facility would require a capital subsidy of $20 million and that the facility would only consume 3,640 tonnes of glass cullet from external sources per annum. In considering the report members of the Authority were of the collective view that the report demonstrates that the project would not be economically viable.
Published: 2008-11-14
Strengthened National Packaging Covenant Action Plan - 2005 to 2008
This Action Plan outlines how the Western Australian Government will meet all of its obligations as a State Government signatory to the National Packaging Covenant, including projects which will contribute to the Covenant’s objectives and overarching targets.
Published: 2008-08-14
Review of Kerbside collection systems and drop off facilities for recyclables and development of preferred service models
In 2007 the Department of Environment and Conservation commissioned CardnoBSD to undertake a review and assessment of kerbside and drop-off recycling collection systems in Western Australia.
The report will assist DEC to develop guidelines that recommend preferred recycling collection service models for Local Governments and therefore assist DEC to meet its obligation as a signatory to the National Packaging Covenant.
The report recommends different preferred services for urban, regional developed or rural regions. DEC understands that a range of systems will be needed to meet the varying circumstances within which local authorities provide recycling services. DEC has initiated this report to provide a source of information on the cost, effectiveness and performance of the various systems for those Local Government Authorities seeking to evolve their current collection services.
Published: 2008-06-09
Weekly collection of recyclables trial: Final Report
The trial is designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of collecting co-mingled recyclables on a weekly basis. Currently the seven member Local Governments that form the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council collect their co-mingled recyclables on a fortnightly basis in a 240 L mobile garbage bin.
Preliminary bin fullness survey shows that over 50% of the households are filling their recycling bin to capacity each fortnight. In addition whole of waste stream audits show that 39% of the total recyclables in the domestic waste stream are being lost to the MSW bin.
The trial is designed to verify what quantity of these lost recyclables can be captured with a weekly collection of the 240L recycling bin and determine the cost for the seven member councils to implement the collection of recyclables across the region which contains 150,000 households.
Published: 2008-06-01
Kerbside Recycling: Exploring Regional Transport Economics
This report was undertaken on behalf of the Department of the Environment to assess the viability of kerbside recycling and investigate opportunities for cost-effective transport of collected items
Published: 2005-02-28
Kerbside Recycling: Regional Recycling Viability Assessment Model
This economic model was developed as part of a study into regional recycling and may be helpful for organisations such as Local Government in determining kerbside recycling feasibility in regional areas of WA.
Published: 2005-02-28
National Packaging Covenant Action Plan 2004/05
This Action Plan follows on the development of programs under the previous Covenant Action Plan, some of which are on-going, as well as developing new initiatives.
Published: 2004-06-30
Partners
The Western Australia Jurisdictional Projects Group comprises of industry, local government and state government representatives and is responsible for developing project proposals consistent with the priority funding areas for consideration by the National Projects Group.
More Information
For more information about this program please visit the National Packaging Covenant Web site.
For more information on the how the program is handled in Western Australia, please contact the Senior Project Coordinator for the Covenant at the Department of Environment by email or telephone (08) 6467 5391.
