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Commercial & Industrial Waste WA
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| Background |
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The WMAA (WA) Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Waste Working Group formed in 2008 and meets on a monthly basis. Participants represent a range of sectors, including the following:
- Waste collection and transport organisations;
- Waste processing organisations;
- Local Government, ie Western Australian Local Government Association;
- State Government, ie Department of Environment and Conservation; and
- Environmental and sustainability consultants.
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| Vision |
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“To provide leadership in the management and reduction of Commercial & Industrial waste”.
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| Mission |
“To act as a focal point for stakeholders to facilitate communications and promote more sustainable Commercial and Industrial waste management in Western Australia”.
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| Definition |
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Commercial & Industrial waste can be considered solid waste arising from the activities within commercial and industrial sites, including but not limited to offices, retail outlets, restaurants, factories and institutions.
Generally, C&I waste comprises of the following:
- Organic waste, eg food waste 35%;
- Paper & cardboard 22%;
- Plastics 13%;
- Metals 8%;
- C&D 7%;
- Glass 2%;
- Other 8%; and
- Non recoverable 5%.
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| Objectives |
- Identify and characterise the main types of waste within the C&I waste stream;
- Provide a forum for the C&I waste management sector and within which C&I waste generators can collaborate on projects that raise standards of practice &/or lead to improved policy;
- Identify and promote sustainable collection, transport, processing and disposal practices;
- The reduction of the amount of C&I waste disposed of to landfill, on a per capita basis;
- Identify and promote opportunities for greater awareness and education;
- Provide a forum for local government and C&I waste management organisations to work together to improve C&I waste management performance;
- Promote source segregation of C&I waste;
- Review Life Cycle Analysis to identify the real costs of waste and recycling;
- Facilitate research into sustainable waste management practices;
- Advocate for policy reform and policy development, eg levies, taxes Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Container Deposit Legislation (CDL);
- Encourage waste generators to participate in product stewardship processes, eg the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program;
- Foster the identification and expansion of sustainable markets for the diversion of waste materials from landfill; and
- Promote alliance strategies.
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| Preferred Outcomes for 2009 – 2010 |
- To advocate in support of increasing the WA putrescible landfill levy to a level sufficient to directly influence commercial recycling decisions;
- The development of a “roadmap for C&I waste”, ie how to address the Code of Practice;
- Engagement with private and public sectors on C&I waste issues;
- Actively promote EPR processes; and
- Promote the categorisation of C&I waste into waste types to facilitate more effective measurement of C&I waste types that are processed &/or disposed of.
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| Membership |
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Membership is open to all those who are prepared to actively assist in achieving the group’s Vision, Mission and Objectives.
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| Benefits of Membership |
- Opportunity to contribute to the future of the C&I waste sector;
- Keep abreast of developments affecting the C&I waste sector; and
- Opportunity to network with the industry stakeholders.
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