Resource and Energy Recovery Working Group WA

The Alternative Waste Treatment Working Group of Western Australia was established in February 2009 under the auspices of the Waste Management Association of Australia. It became the Resource & Energy Recovery WA Working Group in early 2011.

The group adopted the following definition of AWT to guide the scope of activities to become involved in:
“Alternative Waste Treatment is an alternative to landfill which recovers a resource for use. AWT is not a disposal option.Recovery of a resource can include recovery as a product or as energy”.

Information sharing and discussion forum
To provide a forum for learning and sharing of information on alternative waste treatment in terms of technologies, processing and policy.

Advocacy
To provide a mechanism to engage with and advocate to State and Federal government on AWT with a view to broadening the debate on AWT.

Education and Awareness
To raise community, industry and government awareness and understanding of AWT.

Business Opportunities
To explore business opportunities in WA for AWT service providers.

• To drive understanding of AWT:
  • Why it is used;
  • What it means;
  • Social, economic and environmental benefits and impacts.
• To identify drivers and barriers for particular technologies;
• To identify AWT options for waste streams;
• To develop an accessible knowledge base and disseminate information for AWT options and experiences (including what is happening nationally and internationally);
• To provide information and knowledge to waste educators on AWT;
• To document experiences in WA with respect to initiating and operating AWTs (including maps of facilities);
• To provide network opportunities;
• To establish links with and bring together other groups / interested parties;
• To engage with AWT activities and debates at a state and national level;
• To identify government ‘no go’ areas;
• To provide input into debate on government policy and the regulatory framework on waste management as it influences AWT;