Waste management is the term used to describe how you collect, transport, dispose of, and recycle waste.
Waste management governance
In NSW, acts and regulations govern waste management, and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) oversees the implementation of the regulations.
The EPA works together with local government and business to reduce the impact of waste on the environment.
For example, if you want to carry out certain activities, you may need to apply for permission from your local council or another authority.
Leaving commercial waste in a public place may require permission from your local council.
Discharging commercial trade wastewater may require permission from your water provider.
Types of waste
Waste is anything unwanted that your business creates as a by-product of its activities. It can be solid, liquid, gas or radioactive waste.
Some types of waste such as asbestos and radioactive waste have special regulations that must be complied with.
Compliance
Businesses need to comply with the regulations to insure the health of their workers, the community at large and the environment as a whole.
Non-compliance brings heavy penalties to both the business and to the individuals who work in the business.
The penalty depends on the level of offence and can include:
- large fines for businesses
- large fines for individuals and jail sentences of several years.
Note: In NSW the owner of the waste and the waste transporter may both be guilty of an offence when waste is transported to a place that cannot lawfully be used as a waste facility.
The owner of waste includes the person who was the owner of the waste immediately before it was transported.
How to reduce your waste
The EPA recommends following these principles and asking yourself these questions:
- Avoid: do we need it?
- Reduce: do we need so much?
- Reuse: can we use it again?
- Recycle: can someone else use it or can it be converted into something new?
Businesses can access free help and support through the EPA’s Bin Trim program to identify how they can reduce waste and potentially save money.
Visit the EPA website for more initiatives and tools.