Standard for the production and use of waste-derived fill

The SA Environment Protection Authority's Standard for the production and use of waste-derived fill has been finalised after extensive consultation with the waste industry.

The Standard will provide clarity to industry and the broader community on the issues that need to be addressed to demonstrate the suitability of the proposal to use fill.

EPA Director of Regulation and Compliance Keith Baldry said the new Standard will also help the EPA assess proposals and determine compliance with the Environment Protection Act (1993) to ensure that the production and use of waste-derived fill constitutes a genuine waste resource recovery and re-use activity, as distinct from waste disposal.

“The new Standard takes a risk-based approach to address the issues associated with producing and using waste-derived fill. The key components of the Standard include:

• the need to demonstrate that the use of waste-derived fill is for a beneficial purpose rather than a means of convenient disposal and the associated avoidance of regulation and costs,
• the need to ensure that harm to the environment and human health is prevented or the risks minimised to levels acceptable to the EPA,
• a requirement for waste-derived fill to meet a defined specification that is suitable for the proposed use.”

The new Standard and a summary of submissions received during the draft consultation phase can be found on the EPA website.