Browsing: Resource efficiency, waste

Environment ministers today failed to reach agreement on a national ban or levy for plastic bags, prompting South Australia to vow to go ahead with a state ban.



But they committed to an investigation into the merits of a national container deposit scheme and flagged that e-waste would be high on the agenda at its November meeting.

The electronics sector has lost faith that environment ministers are seriously supportive of industry efforts to fund and establish a television take-back and recycling scheme, John Gertsakis of Product Stewardship Australia told a waste seminar in Melbourne this morning.



Meanwhile, Coca Cola Amatil has called for more fines for litterers as part of efforts to fight the litter problem.



And NSW president of the Waste Management Association Mike Ritchie warned that getting paper, cardboard and timber out of landfills is where the big wins lie in terms of reducing the volume of waste going to landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

• Milne slams CCS alliance
  
• 'Ten cent levy would double container recycling rate'
  
• Training system needs to 'move up a gear'
  
• Utility's environmental licence shrinks from 113 pages to nine

In the lead-up to this week's critical ministerial meeting set to discuss container deposit legislation, a consultation report on Queensland's proposed revamp of waste legislation and policy indicates local government authorities in the state are mostly opposed to South Australian-style CDL, although state government departments support it.



The consultation summary says forums with government, industry and environment groups and submissions to government found strong support for stand-alone waste legislation and fairly widespread support for mandatory business waste management plans.



But stakeholders were strongly of the view that introducing a waste levy and then raking most of the money into consolidated revenue – as NSW is doing – would be a 'deal breaker'.

A report commissioned by the Tasmanian government has found that poor enforcement has resulted in a 'lack of interest or intent' in complying with hazardous waste controls.



Tasmania has critically under-resourced the management of hazardous waste and unless the situation changes it will find it difficult to attract investment in much-needed new hazardous waste management infrastructure, the report warns.

• Glass recycling rate over-reported, paper & cardboard rate in dispute
  
• ACCC releases water market rules issues paper
  
• Federal government looks for experts to test efficiency claims
  
• Victoria issues biodiversity and climate green paper

• Victoria releases options for 47% greenhouse gas emissions cuts by 2050
  
• Per capita allocation the 'just' way to go, says Peter Singer
  
• Draft Melbourne waste strategy unveiled

• Federal Court rejects EPBC Act challenge to Port Phillip dredging
  
• Garnaut looks forward to 'turning point'
  
• Online Clean Development Mechanism rulebook launched
  
• Productivity Commission calls for urban water review
  
• Supermarket chain supports bag levy

• Turnbull warns Rudd on permit auction revenue
  
• Australia to accept PCB-contaminated waste from Ok Tedi
  
• Offset providers guide updated
  
• NSW tribunal rejects bid to fold liquid waste levy into Sydney Water charges

• Federal oil spill bill goes before parliament
  
• Senate committee to investigate waste management, CDL
  
• WWF tells Victorian government CCS demonstration projects warrant special treatment