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WALGA’s Waste Management Newsletter
Issue 17 September 2022

RE: Thinking Waste & Recycle

Thank you to all speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and delegates for a fantastic Waste & Recycle Conference!

Hon Reece Whitby kicked off the Conference in style, announcing WA’s top achievements in banning a suite of single-use plastics and having a nation leading Container Deposit Scheme. The Minister also announced a new funding program to encourage Local Government to use recycled Construction and Demolition products.

Dr Karl revved up the audience with his inspiring and alternative take on how to solve climate change and reduce waste. Professor Peter Newman AO, spoke about the opportunities to link waste and climate change agendas.
There was great engagement from participants via the Conference App and very competitive behaviour from some delegates (Emma’s you know who you are).

Special thanks to the Platinum Sponsor, the Waste Authority and Gold Sponsor Revive Resources. 

Everyone loves a good feed and Crown once again excelled. The Conference supported OzHarvest to help reduce food waste from the event itself and donated $10,000 to support OzHarvest to purchase a new refrigerated truck. Donate here to ensure that they continue to have the tools necessary to keep doing their great work.
Watch this space for updates on what will be happening next year as we celebrate 30years of Waste & Recycle!

Image Credit: Waste & Recycle Conference.

Roads to Reuse Local Government Incentives Program

Local Governments can now apply to receive financial incentives of up to $35,000 to use recycled Construction and Demolition (C&D) products in civil construction projects.
The new Roads to Reuse Local Government Incentives Program encourages the use of recycled C&D products by providing Local Governments with a payment of $5 for each tonne of accredited product used in local construction projects.

Payments can be claimed over a single project or multiple projects and will be made to Local Governments on a ‘first come, first served’ basis until the budget is exhausted. The program budget for 2022‑23 is $350,000.

This is a State Government initiative developed by the Waste Authority and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, in partnership with Main Roads WA, the Department of Health and the Waste and Recycling Industry WA

WALGA Preferred Suppliers, WA Recycling, are one of the accredited Roads to Reuse C&D recyclers.

Further information is available on the Waste Authority website or by contacting the Program Coordinator on (08)63646945.

Image Credit: AdobeStock 355316848.

Have Your Say on Reform of
Emission and Discharge Regulations

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is seeking feedback on the direction for regulatory reform.
The passing of the Environmental Protection Amendment Act 2020 in November 2020 resulted in the most significant reform of Western Australia’s environmental legislation in 30 years. Implementation of these reforms requires the amendment of Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (EP Regulations).

The Department has released a discussion paper Environmental Regulation Reform: A Strategic Review of Regulatory Delivery and Fees for Industry Regulation to seek stakeholder views on further improvements that could be implemented through a program of regulatory reform that would extend beyond 2023.

The feedback provided through this process will help inform the drafting of amendments to the EP Regulations, including the development of a new Schedule 1 and related fee framework. The new Schedule 1 will regulate prescribed activities rather than prescribed premises.

WALGA will develop a draft submission on the proposed reforms for sector feedback and will host a consultation session for Local Government on Wednesday, 12October. Register here.

Closing date for submissions is 5:00pm on Tuesday, 13December2022

If you have any questions about the consultation process, or how to provide feedback, email the DWER EP Act Amendments Team or call on (08)63647000.

Image Credit: Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Farewell Gráinne Whelan

Just when everyone had learnt how to say her name, Gráinne is leaving us!  
After 18 months at WALGA, we wish Gráinne all the best as she embarks on a new journey to expand her project management horizons.

Gráinne has been delighted to work with her dynamic and ‘colourful’ colleagues as she seized the opportunity to expand her knowledge on waste issues. She will most affectionally remember the Great Southern Waste Summit, as well as our Krav Maga and Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary team building days.

In true spirit of the Aussie boomerang, Gráinne (and Ollie) will be returning to join the City of Wanneroo Waste Team.

Image Credit: Gráinne and Ollie Whelan (aka the GO Team).

Want to Work at WALGA?

WALGA are looking for a Senior Policy Advisor, Waste. 
This is a great opportunity to join the Waste and Environment Team, with a focus on delivering advice and advocacy in relation to policy, processes and legislation relevant to Local Government waste management activities. 

The Senior Policy Advisor will provide strategic advice and undertake advocacy across a range of waste management matters, including product stewardship and regulation.

We embrace diversity and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

All applications must be received by 9:00am on Wednesday, 5October 2022. A position description and information on how to apply is available on the WALGA website.

For further details on the role, contact Rebecca Brown, Manager Waste and Environment, on (08)92132063.

Image Credit: WALGA.

Introduction to Waste Management

WALGA has developed training to cover the identification and segregation of waste and recoverable materials, waste avoidance and education, and behaviour change in relation to waste management.
Waste management is an essential service provided by, or on behalf of, Local Government for households. This introductory course is suitable for Local Government Officers, and those in the private sector, directly or indirectly involved in waste management.

When: 9:00am to 4:30pm on Friday, 7 October. Register now.
Where: WALGA, ONE70, LV1, 170 Railway Parade, West Leederville.

Email the WALGA Training Team to find out more or visit the WALGA website.

Image Credit: WALGA.

DWER Capacity Assessed

A review of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation under the trial of the Agency Capability Review Program was carried out from November 2021 to June 2022.

The Agency Capability Review Program establishes, for the first time, a sector wide approach to improvement by identifying the capabilities needed to be a high performing agency in the Western Australian public sector.

The findings of this review regarding long term strategy, workforce planning, prioritisation of work and communications aim to help department leaders make evidence-based decisions on where to focus their efforts to improve performance and deliver better services.

Read the Executive Summary for more information, as well as examples of where the Department has demonstrated good practice that can contribute to learnings for other State Government agencies.

Audit of National Waste Policy

The Australian National Audit Office has released a report on the Federal Government's work on the National Waste Policy Action Plan 2019 (NWPAP).
The NWPAP presents seven national targets and 80 actions to guide investment and national efforts to reduce waste and improve resource recovery to 2030. Of the 80 actions, 30 are led by the Federal Government and this was the focus of the audit.

The Auditor-General found that the planning and governance arrangements established for the implementation of the NWPAP are largely fit-for-purpose. However, the effectiveness of implementation and coordination of actions, and monitoring and reporting of progress, has been reduced by lack of agreed scope or deliverables against which progress can be assessed.

There were five recommendations aimed at improving risk management processes, management of shared risks, performance monitoring and evaluation, and clarity over scope or deliverables. The Federal department overseeing the implementation agreed to all recommendations.

Read the full report here. Visit the Australian National Audit Office website for more details.

Image Credit: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

HHW Program

The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program was established to provide Western Australians with a safe, and free, disposal option for unwanted household products that contain chemicals or substances that can be harmful to people or the environment. Find out more here.
Image Credit: WALGA.
 

Bin Tagging Program

The Bin Tagging Program focuses on reducing contamination and increasing resource recovery from kerbside bin systems by using a combination of information provision, incentives and enforcement. Click here to find out how your Local Government can get involved.

WALGA COVID-19 Updates

Read the latest sector-relevant information as it relates to COVID-19. These ad-hoc communications are released as State Government announcements are made. Click here to access the archive. To register to receive these updates via email, click here.
Image Credit: WA Government.

Waste is the Word

 
Want to share your waste management successes, promote a new project, have a key question answered or collaborate with other Local Governments? We want to include your waste management issues in our next newsletter.
Submit your content to the WALGA Waste Team

Resources


WALGA operates prequalified supply contracts to access goods and services at market preferential rates. We have Preferred Supplier arrangements in place for a range of Waste Management, Parks and Gardens, and Environmental services to support service delivery and sustainability within the sector.
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ONE70, LV1, 170 Railway Parade, West Leederville, WA 6007
PO Box 1544, West Perth, WA 6872

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