The waste management and resource recovery framework
- Simplified licensing categories for waste
- Streamlined waste classification
- Resource recovery exemptions
- Managing asbestos and clinical waste
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The Department of Environment and Climate Change waste management focus is to provide a clear and consistent regulatory and policy framework that minimises harm to the environment and delivers greater waste avoidance and resource recovery. This framework uses a mix of legislative, policy, educative and economic tools to encourage waste avoidance and the further recovery of resources.
The waste regulatory framework is administered under the principal legislation of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act) and the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001.
The POEO Act aims to reduce risks to human health and prevent the degradation of the environment by the use of mechanisms that promote pollution prevention, the elimination of harmful wastes, the reduction in the use of materials, and the re-use, recovery and recycling of materials. Regulatory mechanisms such as the waste and environment levy help drive waste avoidance and resource recovery by providing an economic incentive to reduce waste disposal and stimulate alternative waste technologies.
Achieving a reduction in waste generation, and turning waste into recoverable resources is a priority for NSW. Programs are established under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 to help meet this challenge. Such programs and policies are identified in the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy.