Waste minimisation
Did you know that, each year in Australia, each one of us generates an average of 1000kg (one tonne) of industrial, commercial and domestic waste? That's a lot of stuff we have to get rid of somehow. Most ends up in landfill sites. As well as this industrial, commercial and domestic waste, there's demolition waste, radioactive waste, sewage sludge, agricultural waste, mining wastewaters, and waste of energy and water. What's in your bin? Household bins contain waste ranging from plastic, glass and paper to vegetable scraps and food waste. The quantity of each varies depending on factors like the season and the size of the family using the bin.
What is waste minimisation?
Waste minimisation aims to eliminate waste before it is produced and reduce its quantity and toxicity. Prevention is the primary goal, followed by reuse, recycling, treatment and appropriate disposal.
Why minimise waste?
Population increase and high consumption of products in the developed world has created a global waste problem. Affluence has created effluence - the more we have, the more we have to dispose of safely. Scientists now believe we're producing more waste than the environment can absorb. The benefits of minimising waste include:
- reducing demand for landfill space,
- saving resources and energy,
- reducing pollution, and
- increasing the efficiency of production.
If each one of us changes the way we think and act, together we can reduce the amount of waste we make and get rid of.
Industry's role
As environmental concerns increase and disposal costs rise, industry is increasingly implementing waste prevention and cleaner production practices.
The first step in an industry waste minimisation and prevention plan is a waste audit. This involves listing and measuring wastes produced at all stages of the manufacturing process, then adding up their treatment and disposal costs. Many wastes can be reused or recycled within the same process or factory or used in another process in a different factory. Industry can also re-examine and redesign products to limit production of throwaway items and develop and market long-lasting, reusable, repairable and recyclable products.
Government's role
To reduce waste, we need a co-ordinated plan involving the three levels of government.
Local government
Responsible for all aspects of domestic waste management in their area such as recycling, collection, storage and disposal. Local government has been successful in implementing recycling programs in many council areas in Queensland. Current recycling figures show what and how much you're recycling.
State Government
Initiatives implemented through the department include:
- starting to develop an Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Policy for comprehensive waste minimisation and management to reduce the quantity and toxicity of waste;
- helping local government develop a Waste Exchange Register for industry so waste from one industrial process or factory can be transferred and reused as a resource in another;
- producing an educational resource called Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for students from pre-school to year 10 to encourage waste minimisation practices in school, at home and in the community;
- developing guidelines on waste minimisation for industry; and
- reviewing a government purchasing policy which encourages the buying of goods made using recycled materials.
Commonwealth Government
The Commonwealth Government is constantly working on new waste strategies through its agency Environment Australia.
Your role
Actions by many individuals can have a combined effect in reducing the amount of waste materials ending up in landfill. You can help by remembering to reduce, reuse, recycle.
Last updated: 24 December 2008