EPA - Drivers for Regionalisation

1. EPA - Drivers for Regionalisation Max Harvey Director Operations Environment Protection Authority Presentation, reference, author, date

2. The drive to regionalisation • 1981/82 263 rural local government waste depots • 1992/93 209 depots • 2003 155 depots SAWMC Annual Report 1992/93: “Despite the economic difficulties rural councils are facing, many continue to accept the challenge of improving their waste disposal practices….The number of country depots continues to reduce”

3. What are the drivers? • More environmentally sustainable waste management practices. • A more rigorous approach to compliance and enforcement by the EPA. • Potential for further legislative change through amendments to the Environment Protection Act. • Review of criteria that the EPA will adopt in the assessment of new and existing landfill proposals. • Development of a Waste Management Environment Protection Policy

4. Sustainable waste management • The reduction of resource inputs, maximising the efficient use of resources and minimising the final impact of resource use on land, air and water. • Principal object of the Environment Protection Act. • Given where we have come from, it does present a challenge!

5. Compliance and enforcement Labor Government set new directions for the EPA: • Revamped the EPA as an independent authority; • Placed emphasis on enforcement of environmental laws; • Increased maximum penalties under the Environment Protection Act. • Approved additional staff for the EPA Investigations Unit.

6. Compliance and enforcement • Notwithstanding, the EPA does seek to achieve environmental improvement through cooperative means - but we are seeking a maintenance or improvement in waste management standards. • To ensure that licensees and the public have an understanding of how the EPA initiates enforcement action, a draft Compliance and Enforcement Policy was approved by the Board of the Authority for consultation with industry, including local government

7. Further legislative change Proposed amendments to the Environment Protection Act, including: • Amending the definition of “waste” • Introduction of civil penalties • Post closure regulation, enabling control or supervision of sites after the primary activity has ceased (eg landfills, timber preservation) • Causing environmental nuisance as a strict offence

8. Review of Criteria • The EPA is currently reviewing the guidelines for design, construction and operation of landfills for domestic, commercial and industrial wastes. • Current guidelines have not necessarily taken into account local conditions. • Proposed to develop a system based on a risk assessment, factoring in both size and location. • Criteria will be forwarded to local government for comment.

9. Review of Criteria Landfill type based on disposal rate and total landfill capacity • The classification in Minor and Major landfills will be replaced by three types of landfills based on the waste disposal rate and total landfill capacity. These include small (S), medium (M) and large (L) facilities.

10. Review of Criteria Landfill type based on annual waste disposal rate and total capacity

11. Review of Criteria • A Key element of the new Guidelines are that Landfills are classified based upon: • The waste disposal rate and total landfill capacity (Small, Medium and Large); and also • The site conditions (Type B+ or B-) based on environmental risk to surface and groundwater

12. Review of Criteria

13. Review of criteria Potential for leachate generation based on climate conditions: • Derived from an approach used for landfill guidelines in South Africa. • Preliminary net water balance has been calculated for the wet six months of the year. • Sites with a seasonal risk of leachate generation are those with a net positive water balance at a frequency of greater than 1 in 5 years in the wet six months of the year.

14. POTENTIAL FOR LEACHATE GENERATIONBASED ON CLIMATE CONDITIONS

16. Review of Guidelines • Guidelines completed (consultation to commence by end March) • Screening and siting • Site layout • Environmental assessment and water management strategies • Leachate containment and management system • Management strategies for landfill gas and air quality • Construction quality assurance

17. Review of Guidelines • Eight standards and guidelines are still under review with draft documents expected to be available for consultation in June 2004. These are: • EPA Landfill standards for: • capping systems (compacted clay lining and alternatives) • use of geosynthetic materials in baselining systems • use of geosynthetic materials in capping systems • closure and post-closure plans • determination of financial assurance cont over

18. Review of Guidelines • Sections under review (cont.) • EPA Guidelines for: • landfill environment management plans (LEMP) • waste disposal criteria to landfills in SA • operation and performance standards for material resource recovery facilities (MRF)

19. WASTE REFORM • The current Environment Protection (Waste Management) Policy 1994 deals primarily with issues related to medical waste. • It was established to carry over policies of the former SA Waste Management Commission into the Environment Protection Act 1993. • Since the Waste Management EPP was adopted there have been significant developments in waste management. Hence the need for reform:

20. Environment Protection (Waste) Policy • The Waste Reform package will seek to: • cover a wide range of waste types • set in place a broader range of measures to regulate the waste stream • ensure consistency in waste management activities such as landfill operation, material recovery facilities and collection standards. • incorporate the use of regulatory and economic instruments.

21. Environment Protection (Waste) Policy • The Waste Reform package will seek to rationalise and improve waste management practise through three pathways. • Waste Management Plans • Source separation • Codes of Practice or Guidelines

22. (Environment Protection Waste) Policy • Waste Management Plans • Waste Management Plans will facilitate consistency on waste management practices and the diversion of materials from landfill. Waste Management Plans may use tools such as; • minimum standards for kerbside collection • diversion targets • industrial collection for specified wastes • differential levies

23. Environment Protection Waste) Policy • Codes of Practice or Guidelines • The waste industry is very dynamic. It is generally considered that the flexibility inherent in the use of codes of practice provides certainty and regulation coupled with the ability to be responsive to changing circumstances.

24. Environment Protection Waste) Policy • Codes of Practice or Guidelines • Proposed codes to be included in the Waste EPP include: • Landfill Operation • Controlled Waste • Waste Transport • Material Recovery Facilities • Composting

25. What are the drivers? • More environmentally sustainable waste management practices. • A more rigorous approach to compliance and enforcement by the EPA. • Potential for further legislative change through amendments to the Environment Protection Act. • Review of criteria that the EPA will adopt in the assessment of new and existing landfill proposals. • Development of a Waste Management Environment Protection Policy