Regulating waste in NSW

Regulating waste in NSW

The NSW waste regulatory framework is established under the principal legislation of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. The key objective is to ensure a healthy and clean environment by regulating pollution and other adverse environmental impacts that may result from waste activities.

Waste regulation uses innovative tools and programs to mitigate pollution from waste disposal, minimise resource use, improve resource recovery and ensure the appropriate disposal of harmful waste in NSW.

OEH maintains the integrity of the NSW waste regulatory framework by actively working on enforcement, education and compliance programs to promote resource recovery and combat  illegal dumping and inappropriate disposal of waste. Economic instruments such as the waste and environment levy are also used to drive waste avoidance and resource recovery.

A fundamental feature of the regulatory framework is licensing waste activities to ensure that appropriate controls are in place to regulate waste disposal and other waste related activities.