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In this Issue
The Vision Towards Zero Waste in Western Australia. The Principles Prevention - to avoid the creation of waste. 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. Zero Waste Plan Development Scheme for Local Government The Minister for Environment; Climate Change; Peel, the Honourable David Templeman MLA recently wrote to all local government CEOs to announce the release of the $3 million Zero Waste Plan Development Scheme for local government. For further information about the Zero Waste Plan Development Scheme and the associated funding, please contact Project Coordinator, James Milne on (08) 6467 5454. Recent Publications |
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A Word From the Minister 
I am pleased to welcome you to the first edition of ‘Zeroing In’ for 2007. Western Australia's unprecedented growth means we face the challenge of managing our resources in a sustainable fashion and dealing with the waste generated through increased consumption in an intelligent and innovative way. As global research suggests an emerging link between consumption, waste and climate change, the State Government is committed to implementing a range of initiatives aimed at avoiding the creation of waste as well as increasing the overall rate of recycling in Western Australia. Significant amongst these initiatives was the State Government's 2006 approval of an incremental rise in the Landfill Levy. This will bring WA into line with other States and will provide the resources necessary to undertake research, develop policy, facilitate collaborative partnerships, develop markets for recyclables and instigate programs that result in real and ongoing change. Another important initiative is the local Government Zero Waste Plan Development Scheme. I have recently written to local Governments about the first phase of this scheme, which will provide them with great incentives to produce strategic waste management plans. The Board will also continue to operate the Strategic Waste Initiatives Scheme, enabling both individuals and organisations to develop innovative projects that support the vision of 'Towards Zero Waste'. I am told the latest round received an overwhelming response. This year will also see the introduction to Parliament of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Bills that feature a number of significant new measures to reduce the amount of material going to landfill and increase the rate of recycling in Western Australia. I look forward to working with local Government and industry, as well as the recently appointed Waste Management Board and staff within the Department of Environment and Conservation to achieve significant positive outcomes in waste. Under the leadership of former Environmental Protection Authority Chief Executive Barry Carbon AM, the Board is set to deliver on significant and exciting new waste management and resource efficiency initiatives over the coming year. 
THE HON DAVID TEMPLEMAN MLA - Minister for the Environment; Climate Change; Peel. Business Breakfast Wrap Up 
On Thursday May 3 the Waste Management Board hosted the first ‘Zeroing In’ forum for 2007. A diverse audience representing business, government and community gathered at the Sheraton for a business breakfast with Dr Clive Hamilton, Executive Director of the Australia Institute. Dr Hamilton's thought-provoking presentation, Consuming Passions: Waste Consumption and Climate Change highlighted the changing patterns of consumption in Australia, the never-ending quest for the biggest and latest gadgets and the impact wasteful consumption has on climate change. Notable amongst the statistics Dr Hamilton provided were:
Chairman of the Waste Management Board, Mr Barry Carbon also addressed the audience reiterating Dr Hamilton's view that though there is a lot Government can do to address waste issues, the role individuals play cannot be under-estimated. Dr Hamilton's presentation is available for download on the Zero Waste web site. International Composting Awareness Week Launch 
Over fifty representatives from Government, business, industry, not-for-profit and community groups and the general public joined together last Saturday to celebrate the launch of International Composting Awareness Week. Held at City Farm in East Perth, the launch signified the first celebrations for this international event in Western Australia. The event was opened by Andy Gulliver, Chairman of Recycled Organics Western Australia, who welcomed guests and introduced the purpose and aims of International Composting Awareness Week. The first guest speaker was Barry Carbon, Chairman of the Waste Management Board who began by describing the structure and types of soil in Western Australia and discussed how it repelled water and was low in nutrients. He explained the importance of recycling organics and gave credit to his ‘heros’, the waste managers in local Government who were leading the way in green waste and organic recycling. Following Mr Carbon was Josh Byrne (pictured) from Gardening Australia who discussed the value of compost, and shared his passion in creating and using compost. He described the hierarchy of recycling organic material at home, from having chickens in your backyard to setting up your own worm farm and compost heap. He also gave recycling options for people who live in apartments and units, such as the bokashi bin. The launch was brought to a close by Andy Gulliver who thanked guests for attending and promoted the events and activities that were planned for the rest of International Composting Awareness Week, encouraging all to get involved! The launch of International Composting Awareness Week provided an opportunity for people working in recycled organics, and those interested in composting to network and share ideas. Waste Management Branch: Stakeholder Programs Section 
The Stakeholder Programs Section sits within the Waste Management Branch of the Department of Environment and Conservation. Section Manager David Healy explains that his team works with individual stakeholders, stakeholder groups (such as State government, local government, business and industry, and the community), and with multi-stakeholder groups, to assist in developing strategies and implementing programs that assist them to move towards zero waste. The section is actively engaged in:
More recently, the section has added a new project team to work with rural, regional and remote communities around WA, to assist in addressing the special needs of these communities with regards to zero waste strategies. This includes placing a team member in both the South West and North West, with a team leader coordinating activities. Community Grants Scheme: Hare Krishna's Food For Life Recycling Project 
A strong sense of respect for the natural environment and gratitude for the land that provides us with food was the belief system behind the International Society for Krishna Consciousness' successful grant application in the 2006 Community Grants Scheme. The society's proposal was to recommence composting at their organically farmed community garden in Bayswater using enclosed tumble compost bins. When they originally started their organic garden they set up a series of open compost heaps, which provided good quality compost, but tended to attract flies and emit bad odours. A new composting proposal was then developed to overcome these problems and to continue producing quality compost for their garden. The grant enabled the society to purchase a total of ten compost tumblers (pictured) that were then filled with the vegetable scraps from their restaurant. With the advice from an expert, they also purchased a mulcher for pulping the vegetable scraps prior to adding them to the compost tumblers. This enabled them to turn vegetable scraps into garden-ready compost in just seven to ten days. The quality compost produced from the new compost tumblers was used on their organic community garden. The benefits of using the compost was tri-fold! Composting reduced the amount of organic waste going to landfill; the fertility of the soil in the garden was improved; and the produce grown from the compost-improved garden was used in the society's vegetarian restaurant to provide healthy budget meals! In the future, the society would like to invite local schools to visit their community garden in order to share their experiences and demonstrate a practical example of simple waste minimisation. The Strategic Waste Initiatives Scheme (SWIS) is aimed at providing support and encouragement to business and industry, local government, community groups and individuals in tackling priority waste issues. The Community Grants Scheme (CGS) is aimed at supporting local, community-scale projects that improve the management of waste in Western Australia. |
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