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EPA ACTIVITIES AND PRIORITIES FOR 2006Max Harvey

Director Operations DivisionEnvironment Protection Authority

Presentation, reference, author, date

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Introduction

Priorities for 2006 include:

Release of draft Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy for consultation

Finalisation of Waste Management Guidelines, including implementation plan

Reorganisation of the EPA to include a Branch dedicated to waste management

Assistance to regional organisations for waste management planning

Compliance audits of the waste industry, with emphasis on facilities at Wingfield, unlicensed waste transfer stations and waste transporters

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Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy

Current Waste Management EPP has limited scope

The policy and operational environment for waste management has progressed substantially in the last decade

Policy needs to reflect more current thinking with a shift to a more sustainable approach that supports resource efficiency

Implement a number of actions arising from the State Waste Strategy

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Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy

Matters to be addressed include: Objects and guiding principles Waste production Waste management planning – regional,

state government and industry Obligation not to cause environmental harm Resource recovery Waste disposal Reporting Illegal dumping

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EPP – Regional Waste Management Plans

Strategic document for the planning and management of waste in a specified area

Assist in understanding what waste services are required for present and future management in the region

Assist in gaining greater efficiencies through optimising the size and location of waste transfer, treatment and disposal facilities

Reflect the policy objectives of the Waste Strategy Recognise plans that have been finalised prior to

introduction of the Policy Councils to be a party to a Plan in order to gain

funding through any grant schemes operated by Zero Waste SA

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Industry Waste Management Plans

Empower the EPA following consultation with affected parties, to require persons conducting commercial or industrial activities producing waste of a type or volume specified to prepare a waste management plan

Criteria to determine when a plan is required

Compliance with an approved plan would be mandatory

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Material recovery facilities

No waste produced in Adelaide shall be disposed directly to landfill (other than difficult to handle wastes eg asbestos, listed wastes, quarantine wastes, domestic wastes associated with a high performance kerbside system)

Provide for performance targets for recovery of specific materials

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Disposal of waste

Siting, design, construction, operation and closure of landfills, the Authority would have regard to a Code of Practice

Banning of certain wastes from landfill by schedule Criteria would include

# whether existing technologies and systems in place to recover materials and energy# whether landfill disposal presents an unsatisfactory risk# whether, having regard to regions of the State, it is not reasonable and practicable to recover materials or energy from wastes disposed to landfill

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Where to now with the Policy?

Decision to proceed with drafting – April 2006

Parliamentary drafting completed - July/August 2006

Public consultation – September/December 2006

Policy in place – February/March 2007

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Waste Management Guidelines

Comments received on Landfill Guidelines have been assessed by the EPA. Minor changes have been made to the technical content for consideration by the Collaborative Working Party, which meets in coming weeks.

The Implementation Plan is up for negotiation. EPA Board has previously suggested a target of January 2008 and compliance requirement of January 2010.

CWP to consider further the implementation of the guidelines

CWP will also need to consider the findings of the Hyder Report in finalising a revised implementation plan

Need to come to a resolution of this matter as soon as possible

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EPA reorganisation and cultural change program

EPA does a lot of good work, but…

EPA receives criticism (some real, some perceived) that it has a lack of accountability, lacks tight performance measurement and monitoring, lacks consistency and predicability, a limited risk based and partnership approach to problem solving

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EPA reorganisation and cultural change program

EPA to be an organisation that: Effectively manages the tension between the

environmental, economic and social needs of the State

Uses a variety of innovative, regulatory and non-regulatory tools to solve complex environmental problems

Engages and connects with stakeholders to develop mutually agreeable and more effective outcomes

Effectively applies risk based decision making processes

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EPA reorganisation and cultural change program

Compliance management within the EPA has been geographically based, leading to a lack of consistency in terms of decision making

Reorganisation is to shift to an industry sector focus

A Waste to Resources Branch is to be established by July 2006 which can:ensure greater consistency and predictability of approach; better prioritisation of workload; better basis for accountable management of an industry

Revised structure to be backed with a cultural change program

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Assistance in regional waste planning

EPA staff will be made available to assist with regional waste management planning

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Compliance audits - Adelaide

Ongoing concerns within the industry on the need for a “level playing field” in terms of the conditions imposed through licensing

Allegations from major players in the industry on illegal practices of their commercial opponents

Evidence of illegal waste management practices EPA to establish a Waste Management Task

Force to undertake internal audit of EPA approaches as well as a compliance audit of Wingfield facilities, illegal waste transfer depots and waste transporters