Have your say about the new Waste Management Policy

In August 2017, the Victorian Government issued the interim Waste Management Policy (Resource Recovery Facilities) (WMP) to regulate sites storing combustible recyclable and waste materials (CRWM) and compliance guidelines. The interim policy is due to expire on 28 August 2018 and work is underway on an ongoing Waste Management Policy (Combustible Recyclable and Waste Material) (CRWM Policy) and review of the guidelines.

The public consultation on the CRWM Policy closes 1 August 2018. Interested parties are invited to make submissions and suggest changes to both the WMP and the existing guidelines.

If your business stores or stockpiles paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, rubber, textile, organic material, refuse derived fuel, specified electronic waste, metals, and other combustible material which is considered waste, the CRWM Policy is likely to apply to you.

Why make a submission?

Compliance with the CRWM Policy will be mandatory. This consultation is an opportunity for industry to help shape a practical and workable policy.

Feedback to date has indicated industry is concerned about:

the definition, and composition of ‘combustible recyclable and waste materials’ because it is unclear what ‘combustible recyclable and waste materials’ includes or excludes.
the usage of ‘stockpile’ because the storage of waste was not considered to be stockpiling;
the roles and responsibilities of owners and operators of resource recovery facilities due to the prescriptive guideline requirements;
obligations of employing staff trained in firefighting at resource recovery facilities;
whether car wrecking yards are included in the draft policy and guidelines;
compliance requirements for indoor storage of combustible and recyclable waste material; and
the current exclusion of manufacturers who produce and store combustible waste on site.

If you would like to make a submission, the Bespoke Waste Management and Resource Recovery team is ready to assist.

^{Proposed changes under the EP Amendment Bill 2018.}