Roadmap for better waste management in Victoria

Sustainability Victoria has released the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (SWRRIP) which is designed to assist local government and industry deliver the right waste infrastructure in each region. The SWRRIP aims to guide planning and investment to ensure more waste is recovered, re-used and recycled, and less ends up in landfill.

“This is the first time Victoria has had a long-term plan to guide the development and management of its waste and resource recovery needs,” said CEO Stan Krpan. “We are aiming to strike the balance between the need to deliver an essential service with community expectations around the lifestyle, health and environmental impacts of waste management.

“Over 12 million tonnes of solid waste is generated in Victoria every year and this will grow over the next 30 years to more than 20 million tonnes.

“We will continue our focus on waste reduction, improved recycling, delivering education strategies and improving recovery of organic material over the next few years, but we also need to plan for the infrastructure needed.

“The waste and resource recovery sector employs around 8000 people and has an annual turnover of $2 billion.

“Well planned and managed infrastructure identified and delivered in cooperation with communities can deliver significant benefits to the environment and the economy,” Krpan said.

Coordinated planning will help ensure that recycling facilities are managed well and meet the high standards expected for environmental compliance, while minimising impacts on local communities.

Work is already underway to reduce the number of landfills and ensure that those remaining are better managed to reduce their impact. By 2017, 13 of Victoria’s 83 landfills will have closed as a result of strategic landfill levy-funded investments to improve resource recovery and protect the environment.

Seven Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans (RWRRIPs) will be established in consultation with communities, local councils and industry to capture the needs and priorities of each region, and identify business opportunities.