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In this Issue Hot Topics: Landfill Levy Returns now due after 28 days 
One of the changes of the recent review of the landfill levy was to increase the time allowed for landfill operators to submit their landfill levy returns. Regulation 18 of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Regulations 2008 requires that landfill levy returns and payments must now be received not later than 28 days after the end of each quarterly return period. Previously, the requirement was for the returns to be submitted within 14 days of the end of the quarter. Meet the Waste Authority Breakfast The new Waste Authority for Western Australia has been appointed. Following the passage of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bill through Parliament, the Waste Management Authority was established in May 2008. Barry Carbon has been appointed as the inaugural Chair and Ms Jan Grimoldby as Deputy. The other members are Ms Carolyn Jakobsen, Mr Marcus Geisler and Professor Paul Hardisty. Among its many significant tasks is the development of a State Waste Strategy for Western Australia. This breakfast event will provide an opportunity for you to meet the new Members, as well as an opportunity to interact with a range of key players from the industry. Whether you’re new to the industry, an old hand or somewhere in the middle, this event provides you a chance to hear how the Authority will be working Towards Zero Waste. The breakfast will be $65 per head, and held Tuesday 9th September between 7:00am – 8:15am Grants for litter prevention 
The Keep Australia Beautiful Council is providing financial support for projects aimed at litter reduction and changing littering behaviour. Up to $10,000 is available for regional projects and major initiatives and up to $5,000 for single municipal projects or local area projects. Grants are available to local government authorities, small to medium enterprises, local associations, community groups and individuals. For grant guidelines, eligibility, assessment criteria and application kits go to www.kabc.wa.gov.au or contact KABC on 6467 5547 Applications close 5pm Friday 26 September 2008 The Vision Towards Zero Waste in Western Australia. The Principles Prevention - to avoid the creation of waste. New data reports out now! 
The Zero Waste Plan Development Scheme (ZWPDS) Phase 1 Online Survey Report and the 2006/07 Total Recycling Activity Review report are now both available on the website. The two reports give a good overall picture of the recycling industry here in WA, particularly domestic recycling. The Total Recycling Activity Review found that approximately 1.7 million tonnes of WA’s waste was recycled, and that recycling amounts continue to grow steadily. Recycling in the C & I sector is up, making up nearly half of all waste recycled. The Kerbside Waste and Recycling Audit Manual is also available on the website. Local governments are encouraged to use this methodology if conducting audits to support the development of their Strategic Waste Management Plans. 
Znippets Share your good news stories! The Waste Management Board is keen to hear good news stories from individuals and Government, businesss and industry or community organisations undertaking innovative recycling or waste minimisation projects either funded independently or by the Board. Tell us about your project using the online form. Recent Publications |
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Welcome to the newsletter from the chairman of the new Waste Authority 
The Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Act officially came into operation on July 1. The Act has been a long time coming and I’d like to extend a personal thanks to all those involved in seeing it through and commend them for their professionalism, energy and commitment; in particular, Dr John Ottaway and Mr Michael Kerr from DEC and Ms Rebecca Brown from the Municipal Waste Advisory Council. At (our) the Authority’s August meeting members resolved to adopt four broad focus areas – Leadership, Partnerships, Fix and Governance - to guide the setting of priorities and direction. The Minister has approved an Action Plan to enable the start of expenditure The forthcoming Waste and Recycle Conference (www.wasteandrecycle.com.au) at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle promises to be a wealth of information and inspiration from a host of local, national and international speakers including Jeff Seadon, Ministry for the Environment New Zealand, Enzo Favoino from Italy and Helen Spiegelman from Canada. In the spirit of collaboration and open engagement, the Authority will be hosting a special forum at this year’s conference to assist guiding its position on how the Landfill levy will apply at category 63 (inert) landfill sites. Five speakers representing a cross-section of major stakeholders have been invited to present their views and I encourage anyone with an interest in this issue to attend the session. I hope you enjoy this edition of ‘Zeroing In’ and look forward to meeting you at the Conference. Barry Carbon Landfill Levy Discussion Forum The Landfill Levy for Category 63 (Inert landfills) is under review. The levy is currently set at $3 per cubic metre. First established in 1997, the levy was projected to increase to $5 per cubic metre in 2008/9, $7 in 2009/10 and $9 in 2010/11. The WARR Act require the Authority to decide the basis for levies under this new Act. Earlier this year the Waste Authority decided to seek further discussion on clean fill. Following discussions with levy payers as well as companies that compete in the landfill market and interested citizens, the Waste Authority will decide its position regarding the application of this levy to category 63 landfills. 
Participate in the levy discussion:
After the presentations there will be discussions, questions and comments from the floor. The Waste Authority members will be in attendance and may ask questions of the speakers. How to participate: Waste & Recycle Conference 2008 “The Heat Is On: No Time To Waste” 
The Department of Environment and Conservation is again co-hosting the annual Waste & Recycle Conference with the Western Australian Local Government Association and the Waste Management Association of Australia. This annual Conference is being held at the Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle from 9 – 12 September 2008. The Conference brings together internationally renowned Keynote Speakers, delegates from around the State and country to exchange ideas and information, and consider solutions to the burning questions facing the waste industry. The Waste Authority is a Gold Sponsor and is proud to be associated with this major event. The Conference program includes:
On-line survey for Local Government Waste and Recycling services now open for 2008 The annual on-line survey of local government waste and recycling services is now open for 2008. The survey requests information on a wide range of issues relating to local government waste services, including waste tonnages and collection services. The results of the survey will support the implementation and monitoring of the Local Government Strategic Waste Management Plans. Data recorded from this survey will ensure compliance by local governments with the Environmental Protection (NEPM-UPM) Regulations 2007 and the Keep Australia Beautiful Council’s litter survey. To access the survey your will require the username and password supplied in our letter to your CEO (sent August 2008). If you are unable to access the survey for any reason please contact the phone-based assistance line on 6467 5317. The Explanatory Notes have been prepared as a guide and they incorporate feedback received from local governments after completing the 2006/07 survey. Please read the Explanatory Notes before beginning the survey. Please email the Department of Environment and Conservation with survey feedback, we are happy to hear what you thought of the survey. Review of Total Recycling Activity in Western Australia 
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. A copy of the report is now available online (here). 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. Household Hazardous Waste Collection day trials 
City of Stirling hosted the first Household Hazardous Waste Collection day under the new funding agreement between WALGA and the Waste Authority on Saturday 16 August at their Civic Centre. The day went off smoothly, with 126 cars coming through the temporary drop-off facility between 9am and 1pm. The day was organised by Mindarie Regional Council, who were assisted by some Earthcarer volunteers. Residents were greeted by one of the contractor’s personnel, who assisted them remove the chemicals from their car. The chemicals were then assessed by a chemist and sorted into various categories. Click on the below thumbnails to view larger images 
The next collection day will be held at the South Perth Council offices on Saturday 6 September - yes, election day. Strategic Waste Managament Plan Information Updates: Meet the Strategic Waste Management Plan Coordinators In the Metropolitan Area - Coordinator: John Davis DEC Manager Government Programs David Healy and Metropolitan Project Coordinator John Davis met with senior staff and consultants from the Western, South East Metropolitan and Southern Metropolitan Regional councils during March and April. The meetings considered opportunities for incremental improvements to waste services within the regions, permitted knowledge exchange regarding waste matters and allowed DEC staff to answer questions and clarify DEC process for strategic waste planning across the State. Regional councils are happily embracing the partnership approach adopted by DEC, and are presently arranging meetings between DEC and individual Local Governments to consider actions at the local level. Further discussions, with Eastern Metropolitan and Mindarie Regional Councils, are planned in coming weeks. In the Southern Regions - Coordinator: Cathy Campbell I can tell you that the Augusta-Margaret River Shire was presented with the proposed Strategic Waste Management Plan last Wednesday afternoon 8th April. The presentation was made by Brendan Mohr, Manager of Waste Management Services for the Shire. I can also tell you the SWMP for the Shire of Busselton is complete and it is hoped that the plan will be presented to Council before the end of this month. Event management is one area that LGs have the opportunity to include in their plan. Tonight, a presentation will be given in Bunbury regarding event management at February’s Southbound Festival. I will let you know how it goes and should be able to provide something about that. Geraldton Greenough Waste Management Plan Workshop - Coordinator: Raymond York The Geraldton-Greenough Regional Group of local governments involved in preparing the Strategic Waste Management plan met with officers from CardnoBSD over three days in early April. They visited regional landfills and waste management infrastructures as well as participating in a one day workshop. A workshop was convened so that all members could provide input into the Draft Waste Management Plan. CardnoBSD will include comments from the workshop in the draft plan which will be released for public comment. DEC Eastern Regional Coordinator, Raymond York, who was part of the group, said “this was the first time all regional council officers were discussing waste issues relevant to their region and looked forward to the draft plan being released for public comment.” Keep Australia Beautiful Week Environment Challenge 
During Keep Australia Beautiful Week, which runs from Monday 25 to Sunday 31 August, you can help tackle climate change and protect our natural resources by participating in the Score Points for the Environment challenge. Simply log on and record your actions against the list of activities on the Keep Australia Beautiful website www.keepaustraliabeautiful.org.au and you will instantly see the positive environmental contribution that your household, school or workplace has made. Plus, find out how Australia is faring overall.By achieving 100 points, you will be recognised as a Keep Australia Beautiful Ambassador and join a number of well-known Australians getting behind the cause. Example activities that can be validated online to earn you points:
National Primary School Competition Classes registered with Scholastic Book Clubs will receive a classroom Resource Kit in July. Any schools that are not currently registered with Scholastic Book Clubs can phone 1800 021 233 to get involved. Find out more: The Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA), WA Branch has launched the Young Professionals (YP’s). The group aims to:
The YP members come from a diverse range of areas including industry, manufacturing, landfills, recycling facilities, State and Local Government, consultantancies, Catchment Councils and education. As the name suggests, the group primarily contains those who consider themselves young... with everyone’s definition varying a bit. In practical terms, most of the YPs are under 40, or young at heart. DEC is a member of WMAA and Chantelle Noack sits on the YP Committee, this means apart from being kept up to date on all the latest news and events you also get membership benefits including reduced rates at WMAA events. How to get involved and what’s coming up Email Chantelle Noack to receive notifications of YP events/site visits. Join the YP’s Facebook Group (the group is Young Waste Professionals WA ) Look out for the WMAA booth at the Waste & Recycle Conference (the YP’s will be the ones in white coats...) 
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