❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns about waste management practices of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC), potential breaches of the Hazardous Waste Act and the Basel Convention, and the insolvency of a recycling company. The Minister acknowledges the investigation but deflects responsibility.
AnsweredQoN 165Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the minister aware that - (a) By reason of two directions by the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council to householders, waste was added to recycling bins in the local government areas of that council that required sorting and removal before recycling; (b) as a direct consequence of those directions and of the householders following those directions, one of Western Australia’s most significant recyclers has become insolvent; (c) the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has been exporting household waste overseas; and (d) the commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage is investigating the SMRC to determine whether the SMRC has breached the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 by supporting unsorted household waste without a permit? (2) Is the minister conscious of Australia and Western Australia’s obligations under the Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste, and what measures has the state taken to observe them? (3) Will the minister advise what action has been taken to prevent further actions by local authorities that put at risk the state’s recycling efforts or that breach of commonwealth law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
(b) as a direct consequence of those directions and of the householders following those directions, one of Western Australia’s most significant recyclers has become insolvent; (c) the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has been exporting household waste overseas; and (d) the commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage is investigating the SMRC to determine whether the SMRC has breached the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 by supporting unsorted household waste without a permit?
(c) the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has been exporting household waste overseas; and (d) the commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage is investigating the SMRC to determine whether the SMRC has breached the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 by supporting unsorted household waste without a permit?
(d) the commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage is investigating the SMRC to determine whether the SMRC has breached the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 by supporting unsorted household waste without a permit?
(3) Will the minister advise what action has been taken to prevent further actions by local authorities that put at risk the state’s recycling efforts or that breach of commonwealth law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
(1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
(d) Yes.
(3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
(b) as a direct consequence of those directions and of the householders following those directions, one of Western Australia’s most significant recyclers has become insolvent; (c) the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has been exporting household waste overseas; and (d) the commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage is investigating the SMRC to determine whether the SMRC has breached the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 by supporting unsorted household waste without a permit?
(c) the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has been exporting household waste overseas; and (d) the commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage is investigating the SMRC to determine whether the SMRC has breached the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 by supporting unsorted household waste without a permit?
(d) the commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage is investigating the SMRC to determine whether the SMRC has breached the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 by supporting unsorted household waste without a permit?
(3) Will the minister advise what action has been taken to prevent further actions by local authorities that put at risk the state’s recycling efforts or that breach of commonwealth law? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for the Environment has provided the following response - (1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
(1) (a)-(b) The commercial or operational arrangements between the regional council and its contractors are matters for those parties. (c) The minister understands that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council has not been exporting household waste overseas. (d) Yes. (2) Yes. However, the commonwealth government is responsible for administering this convention and ensuring it is upheld. The state, of course, cooperates with the commonwealth when required to do so. (3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
(d) Yes.
(3) The contractual arrangements between a recycling collector and processor are matters for those parties. However, the government, through its recently released “Strategic Direction for Waste Management in Western Australia”, has commenced investigating recycling capacity in Western Australia to meet Western Australia’s future needs as more material is recycled in this state. The state Department of Environment is working with the commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage to raise awareness of the Basel convention in Western Australia’s waste industry and examine how it relates to the export of recyclables.
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