❓ Hon Jim Scott questions the government on waste minimisation targets, comparative state data, and the establishment of a Waste Management Authority. The Minister responds by outlining WA's participation in national initiatives, funding allocations, and plans for a Waste Management Bill and Council.
AnsweredQoN 910Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
910. Hon Jim Scott to the Attorney General representing the Minister for the Environment:
(1) Has the State Government met the national guidelines for waste minimisation?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) What are the comparative figures for the per capita waste going to landfill for each of the Australian States for each of the last three years?
(4) Does the Government plan to address the waste management crisis in Western Australia by establishing an independent Waste Management Authority as it promised to do in its 1993 State Election Policy?
(5) If not, why not?
(1) Has the State Government met the national guidelines for waste minimisation?
(2) If not, why not?
(3) What are the comparative figures for the per capita waste going to landfill for each of the Australian States for each of the last three years?
(4) Does the Government plan to address the waste management crisis in Western Australia by establishing an independent Waste Management Authority as it promised to do in its 1993 State Election Policy?
(5) If not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 November 2000
Response time
44 days
The Minister Replied:
(1-2) Western Australia is a signatory to the 1991 ANZECC commitment to halve waste to landfill by the year 2000. In 1992 ANZECC also endorsed the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy and the National Kerbside Recycling Strategy, through which a number of material-specific waste reduction agreements have been put in place. Following the renegotiation of a number of these agreements, a National Packaging Covenant has been established, to which the State is also a signatory.
Western Australia is still a participant in these initiatives. While the achievement of waste reduction targets has not been at the desired rate, the implementation of the landfill levy in Western Australia has provided funds to direct towards waste reduction and recycling initiatives. The Waste Management and Recycling Fund has already contributed almost $1.7 million to a rebate scheme for council kerbside recycling activities, and $4.9 million towards 176 separate waste reduction and recycling projects. The Fund will also pay for a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling public education campaign. In addition, as Minister for the Environment I recently launched WAste 2020, a stratagy to prepare an action plan for waste management in Western Australia. A draft strategy based on the work of the WAste 2020 Taskforce was released on Friday 11 August 2000. The Waste Management and Recycling Fund will provide a source of funds for some of the initiatives that will come out of WAste 2020.
(3) The National Solid Waste Database has only released national figures for the period up to 1996. Officers of the Department of Environmental Protection have attempted to obtain the information from agencies in other states. It appears that comparable data is not readily available.
(4-5) There is no waste management crisis in Western Australia. The Minister for the Environment initiated the WAste 2020 Taskforce and as part of its work, the Taskforce has critically examined the organisational structure for waste management. Past models which have been proposed and models which have been used elsewhere. There have also been recommendations made on how Western Australia's waste should be managed for the next twenty years. The draft strategy was open for comment until 15 September 2000. A series of public forums are now being held across the State.
It is the Government's intention to introduce a Waste Management Bill into the Parliament. The legislation will include the establishment of a Waste Management Council. The draft legislation will be released for public comment in the near future.
(1-2) Western Australia is a signatory to the 1991 ANZECC commitment to halve waste to landfill by the year 2000. In 1992 ANZECC also endorsed the National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy and the National Kerbside Recycling Strategy, through which a number of material-specific waste reduction agreements have been put in place. Following the renegotiation of a number of these agreements, a National Packaging Covenant has been established, to which the State is also a signatory.
Western Australia is still a participant in these initiatives. While the achievement of waste reduction targets has not been at the desired rate, the implementation of the landfill levy in Western Australia has provided funds to direct towards waste reduction and recycling initiatives. The Waste Management and Recycling Fund has already contributed almost $1.7 million to a rebate scheme for council kerbside recycling activities, and $4.9 million towards 176 separate waste reduction and recycling projects. The Fund will also pay for a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling public education campaign. In addition, as Minister for the Environment I recently launched WAste 2020, a stratagy to prepare an action plan for waste management in Western Australia. A draft strategy based on the work of the WAste 2020 Taskforce was released on Friday 11 August 2000. The Waste Management and Recycling Fund will provide a source of funds for some of the initiatives that will come out of WAste 2020.
(3) The National Solid Waste Database has only released national figures for the period up to 1996. Officers of the Department of Environmental Protection have attempted to obtain the information from agencies in other states. It appears that comparable data is not readily available.
(4-5) There is no waste management crisis in Western Australia. The Minister for the Environment initiated the WAste 2020 Taskforce and as part of its work, the Taskforce has critically examined the organisational structure for waste management. Past models which have been proposed and models which have been used elsewhere. There have also been recommendations made on how Western Australia's waste should be managed for the next twenty years. The draft strategy was open for comment until 15 September 2000. A series of public forums are now being held across the State.
It is the Government's intention to introduce a Waste Management Bill into the Parliament. The legislation will include the establishment of a Waste Management Council. The draft legislation will be released for public comment in the near future.
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