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Policies and initiatives
> Direction 7. A greener city >
Policy 7.2
Policy 7.2 – Reduce the amount of waste generated
and encourage increased reuse and recycling of waste materials
Waste management planning in Victoria is based
on application of the waste hierarchy (see ‘The waste hierarchy’).
Melbourne 2030 aims to ensure that all sections of the
community contribute to reducing
the amount of household, industrial and hazardous waste generated
in the State.
Recycling of municipal waste has improved –
increasing from 27 per cent in 1993 to 44 per cent in 1998–99.
Victorians havebeen highly successful in diverting household wastes
away from disposal in landfill, but the same gains have not been
made in commercial and industrial waste. As this makes up approximately
two-thirds of all waste sent to landfill, effective programs are
needed to promote more efficient practices by industry.
Programs and strategies will be put in place at
State and regional level to reduce the amount of commercial and
industrial waste generated. Regional waste management groups will
continue to play a key role in establishing programs to plan for
municipal waste avoidance and recycling. State and regional waste
strategies can be helped by more effective planning of all waste
management facilities, and by recognising the need to provide sufficient
infrastructure to promote recycling and establish facilities for
safe disposal of the residual waste stream. Strategic approaches
by State and local government, including investment facilitation
and planning programs, could help reduce the amount of waste generated
by encouraging waste generators and businesses that might use or
recycle these wastes to locate near each other.
Long-term gains will be made by promoting the benefits
of product stewardship. Those involved in providing and in buying
goods and services must recognise the potential environmental impact
of a product from manufacture, through use to disposal.
Planning arrangements must acknowledge the continuing
need to safely manage Victoria’s solid hazardous waste. Existing
landfills for disposal of this waste are rapidly reaching capacity
and replacement facilities will be required. The Government is supporting
the establishment of new sites and facilities, which must be located
for long-term viability and must not adversely affect sensitive
land uses. The Industrial Waste Management Policy (Prescribed Industrial
Waste) establishes statutory requirements to enable waste to be
diverted from landfill to more productive uses.
Initiatives
| 7.2.1 |
Establish resource efficiency and waste minimisation
guidelines and targets to be taken up by government agencies,
including increased use of environmentally benign materials
and products assessed according to sustainability models |
| 7.2.2 |
Use State and local planning frameworks to support regional
waste management plans and ensure that:
- land-use planning decisions are consistent with and encourage
implementation of regional waste management plans
- suitable buffers for waste management facilities are protected
and maintained
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| 7.2.3 |
Work with industry groups to achieve higher
levels of waste minimisation, ‘cradle to grave’ product
stewardship and resource efficiency |
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The waste hierarchy
Victoria has adopted the waste hierarchy set out below as
the foundation of the approach that should be adopted by government,
industry and the community for reducing and safely managing
wastes. It states that wastes should be managed according
to the following order of preference:
- avoidance
- reuse
- recycling
- recovery of energy
- treatment
- containment
- disposal
Strategies for waste management that avoid
or minimise waste are the first choice. Where this is not
practicable, direct reuse of materials or recycling of wastes
should be undertaken. Treatment to reduce the waste hazard
or nuisance should be applied wherever feasible and must be
undertaken where necessary to ensure the waste can be safely
managed. Containment of solid hazardous waste is necessary
where none of the preferred options is available.
Disposal is the option of last resort.
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