Waste Management
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Controlled Waste Tracking System
Resource Recovery
We all generate waste, either directly via what we generate at home or in the workplace, or indirectly by purchasing goods and services where waste is also generated.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
A number of materials that we all use in our homes can result in hazardous wastes. Most are disposed of with domestic rubbish, and while in small quantities they may seem harmless, considerable quantities can end up being disposed of in landfills that are not designed to accept this type of waste.
This Living Environment project involves working with Local Government to establish the collection of common household hazardous wastes, including paint, outdated or banned pesticides, batteries, photographic and cleaning chemicals, waste oil and old medicines.
Experience interstate shows that these collections are popular with the community and that substantial amounts of hazardous waste can be removed from the domestic waste stream. The proposal also has the additional benefit of raising public awareness about wastes that should not be placed in landfill, risks to the environment and the long-term costs of landfill management.
Controlled Waste Tracking System
Controlled wastes are those more hazardous wastes that require special attention to ensure that they are properly managed and disposed of.
This project will build on work done under the 2005 Controlling Waste Program, which developed a proposal for a tracking system for controlled waste from the point-of-generation to disposal.
This Living Environment Program project will implement a web-based tracking system for hazardous waste backed by regulations to safeguard public health and reduce the potential for illegal dumping. The tracking system will be an important environmental and public health safeguard by reducing the potential for the illegal dumping or inappropriate management of controlled wastes.
More information on this page.
Resource Recovery
Reducing waste, re-using and recycling makes good sense to most people. The successful implementation of kerbside services has assisted in garnering community support for recycling. A recent research poll indicates that while 97% of Tasmanian households recycle, 88% of Tasmanians would recycle more if the task was made easier.
However, while the recycling rate has increased, the level of consumption continues to rise and the types and amount of material presenting as "waste" at landfills is increasing. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that more can be done in Tasmania to increase resource recovery rates compared with other states and territories. We therefore need to look to the future and see what other initiatives we should be exploring.
The Resource Recovery Project under the Living Environment Program is designed to increase recovery of resources in Tasmania by offering grants to financially support case studies, and the promotion of outcomes from the funded projects.
There are many potential resources being deposited to landfill every day, some of which are too costly to re-use or reprocess, whereas others may be easily recovered. There is also a high amount of incomplete recycling/re-use occurring at present, where many items with recycling/re-use systems in place are still ending up as litter or in landfill.
Commencing in May 2007 a Grants program was offered, to support case study projects. Applications have now closed.
The outcomes of the funded projects will be promoted to local government, businesses and the general community to encourage further resource recovery in Tasmania.
More information on this website.
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Further Information:
Contact: Environment Enquires
Environment Division Enquiries
Phone: 6233 2758
Email: EnvironmentEnquiries@environment.tas.gov.au
