Australian Waste Management Legislation
Introduction
Waste management remains a remarkable approach that improves the quality of the ecosystem. Today, many governments continue to increase habitat protection measures across the world. Governments realize the essentiality of the environment to development. Australia regards waste management as a critical component of territorial conservation. Debris management helps in the reduction of toxic substances that can affect the quality of human life and that of animals. Australia has been successful in its waste management efforts. This paper explains why the current legislation in Australia for managing waste is consequential.
This study affirms the need to enact adequate and effective legislation through a recycling approach to waste management. The Australian legislation on waste management makes significant contributions to the increase in the levels of debris reprocessing in the country. The state justifies the benefits of waste management for city authorities and different regions of Australia. Certain environmental practices in Australia do not help in waste management efforts. This aspect calls for an efficient waste management plan supported by a suitable legislative framework.
The current legislation in Australia for managing waste is effective
Australia does not tolerate inappropriate waste disposal practices. The government adopts a development plan that provides the appropriate framework for waste management. The strategy incorporates actions that can control waste and guide the country towards an efficient and waste-free society. The objective of waste management for Australia is to be one of the states across the globe with efficient waste management policies and legislation. Certain regions in proximity to Australia have created radical measures to regulate waste and receive financial benefits in return.
This section of the assignment explains the efficiency of Australia’s legislative framework in managing and controlling waste. It explains different findings and recommendations from the country’s waste management policy and statutes. The paper observes a growing tendency to ignore waste management projects by many governments because of assumed low financial returns. However, Australia embraces the utilization of appropriate laws to control and manage waste. Ancient methods advance that waste management is an unessential domain. This fact makes waste management a neglected field. The beginning of the 21st Century oversaw the increase in sustainable development through environmental management. This fact led to the introduction of waste management measures like recycling and waste treatment. This aspect contradicted the traditional thoughts that did not provide proper guidance on waste management. In olden days, people left debris scattered everywhere in the environment posing a danger to themselves, animals and property. Proper legislative approaches may define the suitable course to follow in waste management. The statutes advocate for resource reuse and recovery. Australia’s waste management case demonstrates the need to formulate functional regulations for the administration and preservation of the ecosystem. Waste management constitutes one of the ways that the country may employ to preserve nature. An appropriate legislative framework may be the first step in realizing success in waste management in any society. This idea makes Australia, in the world, one of the renowned states in waste management efforts.
Waste management laws in Australia
This report outlines several pieces of legislation that govern the management of waste in Australia. These statutes administer and protect waste management in the country. The first legislative framework for the management of waste in Australia is the Australian Waste Management Policy.
The waste management policy
The Australian National Waste Management Policy is one of the most reliable and environmentally friendly approaches to refuse management in the country. The decree offers an efficient strategy for the administration of waste in Australia. It binds all Australian citizens. The country adopted the policy in November 2009. The Council of Australian Government and the Australian Waste management Board supported it. The legislation provides a channel for the improvement of waste management across Australia. The act contains diverse objectives. A number of the aims of the policy include the avoidance of production of refuse and reduction in the amount of risky waste released to the environment. The measure also aims at managing debris as a significant resource in Australia. It ensures the effective treatment of waste, disposal, recovery and proper re-use strategies to promote a safe and friendly environment. The stipulation forms a basis for the promotion of sustainable development in Australia. It promotes a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions to the ecosystem. The directive ensures proper energy conservation, production processes and industrial activities. It endeavors to achieve efficient use of waste and improve territorial productivity. Diverse regulations manage and control waste management in Australia.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999
The EPBC Act is essential in the administration and protection of the environment in Australia. The regulation offers efficient protection and a management framework for national and international flora and fauna that have national and international importance. The measure plays a critical role in the preservation of ecological communities, heritage and national sites, and areas of international and national significance. Other laws include “Antarctic Marine Living Resources Conservation Act 1981, Antarctic Treaty Act 1960, Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980, Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933, and the Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954” (Neufert 2010).
These stipulations may be crucial in the management of the Antarctic region. The regulations ensure that the environment surrounding the Antarctic area operates efficiently, and zero waste dumping.
The Australian Heritage Council Act 2003
This law empowers the Australian Heritage Council that protects important natural sites from environmental degradation through wasteful and unplanned activities.
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011
This measure provides for the protection of Australia from greenhouse gas emissions and creates the basis for carbon credits. Major laws also comprise of “the 2011Clean Energy Act, Clean Resources (Units-Customs) Act 2011, Clean Energy Act 2011 (Charges-Excise), Clean Energy (Unit Rate Charge—Auctions) Act 2011, Clean Resource (Unit Rate Charge—Fixed Charge) Act 2011, Clean Energy (Unit Shortfall Charge—General) Act 2011, Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011, and the Climate Change Authority Act 2011” (Department of the Environment 2010).
These measures provide for the utilization of clean energy sources in industries across Australia. They serve to provide for the protection of the Australian environment from wastes that could lead to climate change or significant harm to the environment.
The Fuel Quality Standards Act of 2000
This law is effective in the control of gaseous emissions from the automobile industry through the regulation of the quality of fuel.
Risky waste: Control of imports and exports law of 1989
The decree oversees waste management through the control of harmful substances in imports and exports of Australia.
Other relevant regulations in waste management include the Heard Island and McDonald Island laws of 1953, the Hindmarsh Island Bridge Act of 1997, the Historic Shipwrecks Act of 1976, the Lake Eye Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act of 2001, the Meteorology Act of 1955 and the National Environmental Council Act of 1994. Australia also has the National Environment Protection Strategies (Implementation) Act of 1998 and the National Greenhouse Energy Reporting Act of 2007. These legislative pieces are essential in the management and control of waste in the ecosystem (Taylor 2011).
The National Water Commission Act of 2004, the Natural Heritage Trust Act of 1997, and the Natural Resources Management (Financial Assistance) Act of 1992 are also significant in the protection of the ecosystem in Australia. In addition, this paper outlines the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Green House Act that safeguards the environment from dangerous environmental emissions.
The Product Stewardship Act of 2011 and the Product Stewardship (Oil) Act of 2000 are also essential stipulations in the management of waste substances in Australia. The Renewable Energy Act also plays a consequential function in the sustenance of society from perilous substances.
The Waste Avoidance Resource Act 2007 allows waste services to be provided by local governments and transfers waste services from the Health Act of 1911. The Waste Avoidance Recovery Levy Act 2007 determines the levy for debris at metropolitan dumpsites. This report notes ongoing consultations to include large rural and regional sites. The statute dictates the formula for the collection of taxes accruing from waste management. Monies collected from payment of the levies help in waste initiatives as determined by the Waste Authority. The Health Act consolidates and manages laws relating to public health. On the other hand, the Health (Asbestos) Regulations Act of 1992 provides for the procedures of handling, storage, and monitoring of asbestos and related materials (Conner 2011). The other pieces of legislation that play a role in the management of waste in Australia include the Environmental Protection Act of 1986 that allows for prevention, control and abatement of environmental degradation, for the conservation, preservation, protection and management of the environment.
The Australian legislative framework has been effective in different areas. The structure promotes responsibility and accountability in waste management in the country. The framework underscores the need to share responsibility in the reduction of the perilous waste in the environment. This aspect can improve the quality of the ecosystem, health and safety of Australian citizens. Responsibility and accountability in waste management may be critical elements that serve to create sound reuse approaches in the industrial chains and production cycles.
The legislative dimension may be effective in improving the sanitary conditions of markets in Australia. It enables the markets to operate free of debris, to recover and recycle most of the waste products through the application of local technology and innovations.
The Australian legislative framework on waste management has been successful in the pursuit of sustainable development for the nation. It has decreased the number of waste products in the country and led to the achievement of broad environmental, economic and social gains.
The Australian legislative scheme has been remarkable in the minimization of hazards and risks that result in the diminution of the quality of life. The laws have been notable for the promotion of safety, waste recovery, accountability in handling, and safe disposal strategies.
The laws have provided Australia with dynamic solutions to increase the capacity of the country in waste management in regional, remote and different sectors of the economy. The regulations have been significant in the recovery and re-use of resources from waste.
The laws have been crucial in prosecuting offenders for criminal offenses. The regulations ensure proper decision-making on meaningful, accurate, and current information on waste management. The statutes provide data on assessment and progress of education on waste management and advice the public on appropriate conduct.
The waste management legislative agenda of Australia has introduced a culture of appropriate debris regulation in the country. The citizens have increased their accountability and responsibility to waste management roles and reduction of risky emissions to the environment (Walker 2013).
The laws only allow local authorities to administer waste management through radical changes to the Health Act of 1911(Waste management in Western Australia 2013). The Waste Avoidance Resource and Recovery Levy statutes of 2007 determine the fines to be imposed on offenders in waste management programs. Another relevant statute is the Health Act. This piece of law may be applicable to waste management and environmental conservation because it deduces and acts on policies related to public deeds. The regulatory process for waste management of 1992 controls matters associated with waste management of asbestos. The other statute that addresses matters of management of waste resources in Australia includes the “Environmental Protection Act 1986” which oversees that the authorities prioritize environmental issues in the management of waste. The various laws serve to prioritize the interests of the environment regarding any exploits that may be made by man. Relevant interventions must guide any form of investments made to safeguard the environment. Waste management comprises one of how a man can preserve the natural environment. The government of Australia needs to conduct additional research on effective methods of waste management. This aspect may help in advancing the fight against environmental degradation.
References
Conner, R 2011, Some Benefits of Protected Areas for Urban Communities: A view from Sydney Australia, The Urban Imperative, California Institute of Public Affairs, California.
Department of the Environment 2010,Summary Report of Waste to Landfill, Raider Publishing Int, Western Australia.
Neufert, E 2010, ArchitectsData:Third edition, Oxford Brookes University, London.
Taylor, M 2011, Media statement, Waste levy increase to improve recycling, Cengage Learning, Connecticut.
Walker, C2013,Understanding Park Usership, Web.
Waste management in Western Australia 2013, Compliance Report for the Recycled-Content Newsprint Program, Web.