Online waste reporting
Who can report online?
If you are the occupier of a licensed waste facility required to pay the waste contribution under section 88 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, you can submit your waste contribution monthly report (WCMR) online. For other waste reports, see reporting forms.
Why report online?
Each year the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) receives over 400 paper-based waste data reports from waste facility operators, councils, hazardous waste generators, transporters and facilities. As most waste firms now have computerised operations, it makes sense to offer an electronic service. By completing and submitting your WCMR report online you can:
- save paper
- receive email prompts when reports or payments are due
- receive email prompts on quantities and times remaining on AOP approvals
- customise your report
- use a previous form as a template
- auto-calculate and validate your data
- ensure you claim all exemptions and deductions you are entitled to
- get online contextual help for all reporting functions.
The data you enter online is validated and goes directly into the databases without the need for rekeying by the EPA, saving processing time and improving the accuracy of waste data. This will enable more responsive waste management and ultimately lead to better environmental outcomes, in line with community expectations.
Electronic service delivery will also improve accountability for the payment of the waste contribution, which provides a strong financial incentive to reduce the landfilling of waste and encourage resource recovery.
Data supplied electronically will be protected from unauthorised access. Users will need a username and password to access the system and to be authorised to view, edit and certify data.
Data supplied electronically to the EPA will be accessible only to the user providing the data and relevant EPA officers. The system will keep an audit trail of all users accessing and editing reports. There will be no opportunity for users to view reports or data provided by other users.
However, data collected in monthly returns will be aggregated and trends reported publicly in EPA Annual Reports, State of the Environment Reports and other relevant waste publications. The online system allows this to occur quickly and give users fast and ready access to the information.
See the EPA commitment to privacy and security.
Obtaining/changing your username and password
To obtain or change your username or password, contact the EPA's Waste Management Section on 131 555 or email wastedata@environment.nsw.gov.au.
User privileges
Your user privileges determine the functions you can use in online waste reporting and are administered by the EPA. The occupier of the waste facility must nominate the user privileges to be assigned to each individual who will have access to the facility's waste reports within the online system.
Types of users
- Viewer: Can view the reports but cannot edit or perfom any other function in reports apart from print.
- Editor: Can view, create, edit and perform all functions in reports but cannot e-certify reports.
- e-Certifier: Can view, create, edit and perform all functions in reports and e-certify and submit reports online to the EPA.
The e-Certifier is responsible for the accuracy of waste reports submitted to the EPA. e-Certification must be completed for an online waste report to be valid and deemed to have been submitted to the EPA.
By certifying an online waste report the e-Certifier:
- submits the report to the EPA
- certifies that information contained in the report is correct
- acknowledges the occupier of the facility's liability to pay the contribution determined in the report
- certifies that all exemptions and deductions claimed in the report are valid and correct, and can be substantiated (see record-keeping).
Important: All information contained within a waste contributions monthly report, records maintained in support of a report, and any claims for exemptions and deductions may be subject to EPA audit inspections.
Page last updated: 12 July 2012
