Minister endorses independent recommendations on Atlas waste management site

19/10/00
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes has endorsed the recommendations from an independent examination into the operations of the Atlas waste management site in Mirrabooka.
Mrs Edwardes appointed Mr Harry Morgan, a businessman who has headed negotiation teams around the world, to consult with all stakeholders in an attempt to reach a consensus on the operating procedure for the waste management site.
Mr Morgan recommended that Atlas be granted a licence to operate a secondary waste treatment plant to deal with household waste from the City of Stirling.
He also recommended that conditions be placed on the licence in respect of odour, dust and leachate control and also recommended landscaping be developed at the site.
Mrs Edwardes said an operation licence had been granted for 12 months under the conditions recommended by Mr Morgan.
"Importantly for the local community, no putrescible waste will be allowed to be disposed of at the Atlas site," she said.
"I am pleased that progress has been made by the Atlas Site Community Liaison Committee on the eventual closure and rehabilitation of the Atlas site.
"I have instructed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to ensure that an immediate higher level of supervision and response to community concerns is made for the Atlas site and that it concurrently begins the process for a 'supervised licence' system."
Mrs Edwardes said the Government's Waste 2020 program strongly supported the reduction of waste disposal into landfill sites. As such, the Advisory Committee on Waste Management was evaluating options for a secondary waste treatment system at the Atlas site.
This might involve the use of Waste Management and Recycling Fund monies.
Mrs Edwardes said a Murdoch University study report on the development of a Scientific Methodology for the Assessment of the Potential Environmental Impact of Landfilled Wastes part of Mr Morgan's recommendations- was being reviewed by DEP.
Media contact: Steve Manchee on 9421 7777