Waste Watch
A regular segment with news on recent initiatives and actions in the waste management space
Partnerships deliver both environmental and social benefits
Environment Minister Griffin, Tomra Cleanway and other Return and Earn representatives open new Mascot depot
In March we celebrated the grand opening of the new City Return and Earn automated depot in Mascot. The operation is run by Clean Vibes a sustainable waste management business which collects waste from outdoor festivals and events. The containers collected at these events are then taken back to their depot for recycling through Return and Earn.
Clean Vibes has partnered with the KARI Foundation, an Aboriginal community support services organisation. The KARI Foundation receives all charity donations from containers donated at the depot and it also provides staff for the depot and related activities.
This is a wonderful example of how the Return and Earn scheme is working to deliver both environmental and social benefits to the NSW community. You can find out more on the Return and Earn website.
New nationally consistent system to track hazardous waste
Hazardous waste is classified as a waste that has properties which make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. For example, solvent-based paints, pesticides and other garden chemicals, batteries or, motor oil.
The EPA is developing a nationally consistent, world-class hazardous and controlled waste tracking system to significantly improve how we capture, share and use data on the movement of these wastes across Australia.
Our strategic approach will align with other states on how we administrate, legislate and classify hazardous waste.
We are partnering with the Queensland Department of Environment and Science to develop the solution for NSW and Queensland, and we are engaging with EPA Victoria to identify opportunities to align our digital solution with their current waste tracking system.
More news on this to come in future editions of EPA Connect.
$45 million recycling plant opens in Albury
Australia took a giant step into the circular economy in Albury in March with the opening of the nation’s largest PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalate) recycling plant. The factory will be capable of processing 1 billion plastic bottles each year for new uses.
New Campbelltown Community Recycling Centre opens
South west Sydney residents will now be able to dispose of problem household wastes for free at the new Campbelltown Community Recycling Centre.
Items accepted at the facility include paint, motor oils, household batteries, gas bottles, other oils, smoke detectors, portable fire extinguishers, car batteries, fluoro globes and tubes, aerosols and e-waste.
This new drop off centre will help reduce the amount of material going to landfill and also reduce the travel burden on residents who had to travel to other facilities in Sydney to dispose of problem household waste.
Check out your nearest Community Recycling Centre.
The Big Coffs Can
If you are ever in Coffs Harbour and thought the Big Banana was the place to visit you should check out the big Coffs Can as well.
The big Coffs Can Return and Earn station
There might not be any ice cream but for every can and bottle returned you will get 10c. Which you can then spend on that ice cream, guilt free!
More information
While on the topic of Coffs Harbour, the annual Waste Conference will be held there from 3-5 May