In this Issue
- It's WARR On Waste
- Zeroing In on Zero Waste
- Whos Who: DEC Waste Management Branch Manager
- The Waste Management Branch: A Snapshot
- Gascoyne Challenges
- From Trash to Treasure
The Vision
Towards Zero Waste in Western Australia.
The Principles
Prevention - to avoid the creation of waste.
Recovery - to efficiently recover, retreat and reuse all wastes.
Disposal - to responsibly manage waste into the environment.
Znippets
Depots in the Perth Metropolitan Area now accept and dispose of household quantities of chemical waste free of charge. Find out how you can identify and safely dispose of your household chemical waste.
We've changed the way we publish news on the Zero Waste web site, now bringing together local, national and international stories about waste management and recycling.
Have Your Say
The Department of Environment and Conservation is running a series of workshops to discuss the draft Waste and Resource Recovery Bills between the 5th and 18th of September.
The Waste Management Board is holding a workshop to discuss the draft Organics Strategy and Interim Standards in Busselton on Tuesday 26th September.
Key Dates
The closing date for expressions of interest for Community Grants Scheme funding is 15th September 2006.
This year's Waste and Recycle Conference will be held from the 19th to the 22nd of September at the The Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle. The conference includes workshops on Container Deposit Systems, the National Packaging Covenant, and Waste Education.
Recent Publications
- Draft Organics Strategy
- Interim Standards for Organics Applied to Land
- Household Chemical Waste Brochure
- Draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Bills
Next Issue
The next issue of Zeroing In is due for publication in November 2006.
It's WARR On Waste
Two waste management Bills have recently been released for public comment.
Waste Management Board Chairman Noel Davies said the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Bill and the associated WARR Levy Bill were significant pieces of legislation introduced to manage waste.
"Having the two Bills reach this stage of being approved by Cabinet for public review is very promising," the Chairman said.
"A huge amount of work has gone into the main Bill, not only by departmental officers over the past nine years, but by hundreds of important stakeholders.
"These include the WA Local Government Association, the Conservation Council of WA, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy, the Waste Management Board and many government departments."
Zeroing In on Zero Waste
More than 100 representatives across government, business and industry, not-for-profit and community groups joined together to share their vision of Zero Waste in Western Australia at the Waste Management Board’s inaugural ‘Zeroing In’ Forum on Thursday 17 August at the Old Swan Brewery.
Keynote speaker, the Minister for Environment; Racing and Gaming the Hon Mark McGowan welcomed guests and inspired them with stories from his recent environmental fact-finding mission trip to Europe. Minister McGowan also officially launched the much anticipated draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Bills.
Chairman of the Waste Management Board Mr Noel Davies followed outlining the key initiatives and priorities from the Board’s 2006-2007 Business Plan.
Four representatives who have received funding through the Board’s Strategic Waste Initiative Scheme (SWIS) were then invited to share their waste projects.
Whos Who: DEC Waste Management Branch Manager
Michael Kerr believes he has a great job where it comes to waste management issues in WA.
‘We’re responsible for the non-regulatory aspects, so we’re all about positives - encouraging recycling and improving how people deal with waste generation,’ he said.
‘There are frustrations and big challenges of course, but so many terrific opportunities.’
The Waste Management Branch: A Snapshot
The Waste Management Branch sits within the Environmental Management Division of the Department of Environment and Conservation.
The Branch is responsible for providing support to the Waste Management Board, developing and coordinating a comprehensive range of waste management policy and programs, and administering the Waste Management & Recycling Fund.
Support Schemes
The Strategic Waste Initiatives Scheme is aimed at providing support and encouragement to business and industry, local government, community groups and individuals in tackling priority waste issues. Its cousin, the Community Grants Scheme is aimed at supporting local, community-scale projects that improve the management of waste in Western Australia.
Gascoyne Challenges
Recycling at some of WA’s most environmentally sensitive tourist areas, including Coral Bay and Shark Bay, will be considered as part of a study into waste management in the Gascoyne, funded by the Strategic Waste Initiative Scheme.
The Gascoyne Development Commission has been awarded a grant to conduct a feasibility study into a waste management project for the region.
The study will investigate the potential for recycling in areas including Carnarvon, Exmouth, Shark Bay, Gascoyne Junction and Burringurrah and the popular tourist location of Coral Bay.
From Trash to Treasure
One person's trash is another one's treasure according to Junkbusters Inc - a not-for-profit registered charity operating within the City of Armadale.
Operating the highly successful Drop 'n' Shop Reuse Centre at the Hopkinson Road landfill site, Junkbusters intercepts reusable rubbish that arrives at the site and sells it to the public at bargain prices.
Junkbusters chairperson Muriel White said they see some amazing items being thrown away, many of which could be recycled or reused.
‘We provide people with the opportunity to buy one-off items at low-cost prices, such as antiques, furniture, jewellery and household goods.
‘Any item that we receive is restored to its best possible state in our on site workshop.’
Muriel said the more we recycle, the less rubbish that ends up in landfill, an important reason she formed Junkbusters.
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