A WA parliamentary question addresses the environmental impact and waste management strategies following a fire at the Regional Resource Recovery Centre, focusing on alternative waste disposal and potential health concerns.

AnsweredQoN 602Legislative Council
Asked
4 June 2009
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

REGIONAL RESOURCE RECOVERY CENTRE FIRE
Further to my question without notice 591 of Wednesday, 3 June — (1) Can the minister provide details about plans for a decommissioned materials-recovery facility to be reopened for the purpose of handling some of the waste diverted from the Regional Resource Recovery Centre? (2) Can the minister give any further information about other places where materials will be diverted? (3) In the region affected, where is the waste going from residents’ green-top bins? (4) Has any resident reported health concerns due to the smoke? Hon DONNA FARAGHER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the question. I also thank her for giving me some early advice in relation to this matter. (1)-(2) I have been monitoring this issue very closely. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Waste Authority have been providing me with regular updates. The latest advice I have from the department is that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council is currently negotiating with Perth Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd to reopen and increase its throughput to take recyclable material at its plant in Cockburn. It is also talking to Cleanaway Mandurah. They may well be discussing further options, but that is as much as I know at this stage. The department has also contacted all materials-recovery facilities in Perth to establish whether there will be sufficient capacity to take all of the material. (3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
(1) Can the minister provide details about plans for a decommissioned materials-recovery facility to be reopened for the purpose of handling some of the waste diverted from the Regional Resource Recovery Centre? (2) Can the minister give any further information about other places where materials will be diverted? (3) In the region affected, where is the waste going from residents’ green-top bins? (4) Has any resident reported health concerns due to the smoke? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. I also thank her for giving me some early advice in relation to this matter. (1)-(2) I have been monitoring this issue very closely. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Waste Authority have been providing me with regular updates. The latest advice I have from the department is that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council is currently negotiating with Perth Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd to reopen and increase its throughput to take recyclable material at its plant in Cockburn. It is also talking to Cleanaway Mandurah. They may well be discussing further options, but that is as much as I know at this stage. The department has also contacted all materials-recovery facilities in Perth to establish whether there will be sufficient capacity to take all of the material. (3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
(2) Can the minister give any further information about other places where materials will be diverted? (3) In the region affected, where is the waste going from residents’ green-top bins? (4) Has any resident reported health concerns due to the smoke? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. I also thank her for giving me some early advice in relation to this matter. (1)-(2) I have been monitoring this issue very closely. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Waste Authority have been providing me with regular updates. The latest advice I have from the department is that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council is currently negotiating with Perth Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd to reopen and increase its throughput to take recyclable material at its plant in Cockburn. It is also talking to Cleanaway Mandurah. They may well be discussing further options, but that is as much as I know at this stage. The department has also contacted all materials-recovery facilities in Perth to establish whether there will be sufficient capacity to take all of the material. (3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
(3) In the region affected, where is the waste going from residents’ green-top bins? (4) Has any resident reported health concerns due to the smoke? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. I also thank her for giving me some early advice in relation to this matter. (1)-(2) I have been monitoring this issue very closely. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Waste Authority have been providing me with regular updates. The latest advice I have from the department is that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council is currently negotiating with Perth Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd to reopen and increase its throughput to take recyclable material at its plant in Cockburn. It is also talking to Cleanaway Mandurah. They may well be discussing further options, but that is as much as I know at this stage. The department has also contacted all materials-recovery facilities in Perth to establish whether there will be sufficient capacity to take all of the material. (3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
(4) Has any resident reported health concerns due to the smoke? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. I also thank her for giving me some early advice in relation to this matter. (1)-(2) I have been monitoring this issue very closely. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Waste Authority have been providing me with regular updates. The latest advice I have from the department is that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council is currently negotiating with Perth Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd to reopen and increase its throughput to take recyclable material at its plant in Cockburn. It is also talking to Cleanaway Mandurah. They may well be discussing further options, but that is as much as I know at this stage. The department has also contacted all materials-recovery facilities in Perth to establish whether there will be sufficient capacity to take all of the material. (3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for the question. I also thank her for giving me some early advice in relation to this matter. (1)-(2) I have been monitoring this issue very closely. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Waste Authority have been providing me with regular updates. The latest advice I have from the department is that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council is currently negotiating with Perth Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd to reopen and increase its throughput to take recyclable material at its plant in Cockburn. It is also talking to Cleanaway Mandurah. They may well be discussing further options, but that is as much as I know at this stage. The department has also contacted all materials-recovery facilities in Perth to establish whether there will be sufficient capacity to take all of the material. (3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
I thank the member for the question. I also thank her for giving me some early advice in relation to this matter. (1)-(2) I have been monitoring this issue very closely. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Waste Authority have been providing me with regular updates. The latest advice I have from the department is that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council is currently negotiating with Perth Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd to reopen and increase its throughput to take recyclable material at its plant in Cockburn. It is also talking to Cleanaway Mandurah. They may well be discussing further options, but that is as much as I know at this stage. The department has also contacted all materials-recovery facilities in Perth to establish whether there will be sufficient capacity to take all of the material. (3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
(1)-(2) I have been monitoring this issue very closely. The Department of Environment and Conservation and the Waste Authority have been providing me with regular updates. The latest advice I have from the department is that the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council is currently negotiating with Perth Engineering and Maintenance Pty Ltd to reopen and increase its throughput to take recyclable material at its plant in Cockburn. It is also talking to Cleanaway Mandurah. They may well be discussing further options, but that is as much as I know at this stage. The department has also contacted all materials-recovery facilities in Perth to establish whether there will be sufficient capacity to take all of the material. (3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
(3) I understand that waste from green-top bins will continue to go to the Waste Composting Facility, which was not affected by the fire. (4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.
(4) Health concerns are specifically matters for the Minister for Health, but I am happy to take them up with him and get answers to the member. The Department of Environment and Conservation has been at the site of the fire since 2.00 am on Sunday undertaking a variety of air quality monitoring. The clear advice to me is that there is no harm to the environment or risk to the community. However, it will continue to monitor what is obviously a very serious matter.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more