The Better Practice Organics Recycling guideline sets a benchmark which will make expectations clearer for organics recycling. It will also provide guidance to operators of organics recycling facilities to understand what is required to help achieve the Waste Strategy 2030 target for all waste to be managed and/or disposed to better practice facilities by 2030.
The guideline will play a vital role in supporting the rollout of food organics, garden organics (FOGO) collection services across Perth and Peel. FOGO rollout will generate a significant additional stream of organic waste in the coming years, and the guideline will ensure that this waste is being managed to a high standard and producing fit-for-purpose products such as compost.
The guideline will also support innovation and growth in the organics recycling industry by providing a benchmark which operators can either apply or use to inform the development of alternative approaches to achieve acceptable environmental outcomes.
Ed Schuller, Executive Director, Regulatory Services, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation said this guideline will make it clearer for existing and new organics recycling operators to achieve acceptable outcomes by preventing and minimising risks to the environment.
“The Waste Strategy includes a target for all waste facilities to adopt environmental protection better practice by 2030. The guideline is the first of its kind to support both industry licensing via Part V of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and the better practice targets in the Waste Strategy 2030,” he said.
“In developing this guideline, we have worked with industry to better understand the challenges operators face around licensing expectations when recycling organic materials.”
The Better Practice Organics Recycling guideline supports the Waste Strategy vision for Western Australia to become a sustainable, low-waste circular economy in which human health and the environment are protected from the impacts of waste.
In 2023, the State Government through the Waste Authority will make funding available to support the implementation of the Better Practice Organics Recycling guideline.
For more information view the Better Practice Organics Recycling guideline.
