Spreading the word on chemical and hazardous waste
A customer-centric approach to spray drift education is helping EPA staff increase awareness about responsible pesticide use, and promote positive behaviour change amongst farmers. In recent months, the EPA also delivered public safety awareness initiatives on asbestos.
Working together to control crop spray drift
Pesticide users appreciated the regional focus of a series of field days and workshops demonstrations
Building on a partnership with the community group Stop Off-target Spraying, or SOS Macquarie Valley, staff from the EPA’s Chemical Regulation Unit attended a series of workshops, field days and community awareness events across the Macquarie Valley in western NSW in October 2018.
Drawing on the local knowledge, reputation and expertise of SOS Macquarie Valley committee members, EPA staff were able to reach over 600 people through the events, providing them with demonstrations and information about better spray practices to manage pests while minimising spray drift that can impact on neighbours' crops.
Reforms on pesticide use
Certain pesticide users require a licence from the EPA to ensure that they only use registered pesticides covered by a label or permit and take all measures to avoid harming other people or damaging the environment. Important reforms were brought in on 1 July 2018, which include licensing requirements for individuals carrying out ground applicator work and requirements for pest management technicians and fumigator trainees to hold training permits. The reforms also amended the list of chemicals that require a licence, and updated requirements for training, notification and record keeping.
As creepy crawlies prevail in the summer months, check out EPA’s tips on hiring pest controllers.
Top tips for National Asbestos Awareness Month
Did you know one in three homes in Australia still contains asbestos? That’s just one of the reasons why the NSW Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authority (HACA) was created in 2010 to improve the management, monitoring and response to asbestos issues, across all NSW Government agencies.
The NSW EPA now leads the HACA and is responsible for regulating the transportation and disposal of asbestos.
To mark November’s National Asbestos Awareness Month, the EPA offered some top tips to help home owners, renovators and tradies safely manage and dispose of asbestos found in homes built prior 1987. The NSW EPA also sought public feedback on its draft NSW Asbestos Waste Strategy 2018-22, which proposed innovative measures to reduce illegal dumping and unsafe disposal. It is anticipated that the strategy will be released in early 2019.