Avoiding Prescribed Industrial Waste
- Why this is important
- Case study successes
- New projects and programs
- What is Prescribed Industrial Waste?
- Cost impacts of Prescribed Industrial Waste on Industry
- The Program’s Benefits to Industry
- How to get involved
Why this is important
On 9 January 2007 the Victorian Government announced its objective to reduce prescribed industrial waste (PIW) disposed to landfill to 40,000 tonnes a year by 2009, and to eliminate hazardous waste landfill by 2020.
To achieve this objective the approach has three key aspects to it:
- Increases in the Levy cost associated with disposal of this waste
- Regulatory drivers with the new hazard classification system (PDF file, 549KB), and landfill bans (44 gallon drums and used oil filters).
- Voluntary Programs that reinvest the Levy revenue back into industry on ‘beyond compliance’ initiatives.
EPA’s ‘Prescribed Industrial Waste (PIW) Voluntary Reduction Program’ aims to assist industry to deliver this objective by reducing their volume of waste to landfill in ways that simultaneously reduce costs.
The Program reinvests the landfill levy paid by industry when disposing of prescribed industrial waste to landfill. Typically this reinvestment takes the form of research or trials.
EPA has a key role to play in supporting this objective, by leading, influencing and supporting waste producers and treaters to avoid, reuse, recycle or recover waste for energy.
Download the Victorian Government's media release (PDF file, 18KB).
Case study successes
More and more businesses are working collaboratively with EPA through the Program and are reaping the environmental and economic gains. Case studies of these success stories are available.
New projects and programs
- HazWaste Fund
- Veolia Environmental Services Sustainability Covenant
- Contaminated Packaging Issues & Solutions Event
- Industrial Waste Treatment: A Path to Reuse of Prescribed Industrial Wastes (PIW)
- Seafood Processing Waste Forum
What is Prescribed Industrial Waste?
As stated in Environment Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998, a Prescribed Waste is a potentially hazardous industrial waste listed in Part B of Schedule 1 of the Regulation.
Cost impacts of Prescribed Industrial Waste on Industry
The disposal of prescribed industrial waste can be a significant cost to industry. As of 1 July 2007, the landfill levy for the disposal of prescribed industrial waste will increase from $26 per tonne to up to $130 per tonne. Further increases of up to $250 per tonne will occur from July 1 2008. The total costs for disposing of prescribed industrial waste can be over $500 per tonne once the costs of pre-treatment, the landfill levy, the landfill gate fee and transportation are considered.
The three hazard classifications for solid prescribed industrial waste and corresponding landfill levy
| Waste classification | Description | Disposal requirements | Landfill levy as at 1 July 2007 | Landfill levy as at 1 July 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category A (highest hazard) | Waste that requires a very high level of control and ongoing management to protect human health and the environment. | Waste must be treated or immobilised to reduce or control the hazard before being sent to a licensed landfill. | Prohibited from landfill - levy does not apply | Prohibited from landfill - levy does not apply |
| Category B | Waste that requires a high level of control and ongoing management to protect human health and the environment. | Waste must be sent to landfill licensed to accept Category B waste, or can be treated or immobilised to meet Category C criteria. | $130 per tonne. | $250 per tonne. |
| Category C (lowest hazard) | Poses a low hazard or exhibits offensive aesthetic properties, and requires control and/or ongoing management to protect human health and the environment.
There are two type of Category C waste: |
Waste must be sent to landfill licensed to accept Category C waste. | $50 per tonne. | $70 per tonne. |
Note: The schedule levy for packaged waste asbestos remains unchanged at $30 per tonne to encourage safe handling and disposal of asbestos.
The Program’s Benefits to Industry
Some of the program benefits for industry include:
- The opportunity to investigate new strategies to reduce waste generation;
- Reduced costs as a result of reduced waste disposal; and
- An enhanced reputation as a result of EPA’s communication strategy.
Additional benefits of the program can often include improved occupational, health and safety conditions (due to reduced waste generation) and increased productivity (due to less waste and more product being produced).
How to get involved
If you would like to investigate how your company can reduce costs by cutting waste, please contact EPA to discuss opportunities for getting involved.
Contact details
Send an email
EPA Victoria
GPO Box 4395QQ Melbourne Victoria 3001
Telephone: (03) 9695 2722
Fax: (03) 9695 2780