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The future of Hazardous Waste management in Victoria - Have your say!

The Environment Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998 and the Industrial Waste Management Policy (Prescribed Industrial Waste) IWMP (PIW) are both due for review. The EPA wants your help to design a better framework for the future. Click here to find out how you can become involved.

 

Overview

The terms prescribed industrial waste and hazardous waste are sometimes used interchangeably, however under the statutory framework administered by EPA the term 'prescribed industrial waste' has a specific meaning. The term hazardous waste does not have a statutory definition.

Certain types of industrial wastes are legally referred to as prescribed industrial wastes but not all wastes generated from commercial or industrial sources are prescribed, just those listed in the Environment Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998 ( Adobe PDF, 416KB).   Prescribed industrial wastes need to be carefully managed and are closely regulated because of their potential adverse impacts on human health, the environment, or public amenity (for example odorous waste).  Prescribed industrial wastes make up most of the listed prescribed wastes, with two exceptions grease interceptor trap waste from domestic sources and domestic asbestos waste.

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How is prescribed industrial waste generated?

We all use goods and services produced by Victorian industry on a day-to-day basis. Providing these goods and services generates wastes, including prescribed industrial wastes.  Generators of these waste include car repair workshops, dry cleaning services, fast food chain stores, food processing plants, chemical, paint and plastics manufacturing, dental surgeries and hospitals.

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How is prescribed industrial waste managed in Victoria?

The Environment Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998 (Adobe PDF, 416KB) and Industrial Waste Management Policy (Prescribed Industrial Waste) (Adobe PDF, 254KB) together establish the regulatory framework for prescribed waste management in Victoria.  The policy seeks to drive waste minimisation and the reuse, recycling and recovery of energy of waste that cannot be avoided.  Victoria is improving the way prescribed industrial waste is managed through several programs.

The most important step is through reducing or avoiding the amount of prescribed industrial waste generated. EPA is undertaking programs to help industry identify ways of reducing the amount of waste produced.  The EPA is also exploring ways that the waste can be reused, recycled or the energy recovered so that this waste is used for productive purposes.

If the waste cannot be avoided or used productively, EPA will ensure this waste is safely managed at best practice municipal landfills and appropriately licensed facilities.  EPA regulates the management and disposal of prescribed industrial waste through statutory instruments including licensing, works approval, notices, regulations and policy.

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Hazard Classification System 

PIW’s destined for landfill must first be classified into one of three hazard categories A, B or C.  Category A wastes are banned from landfill and require treatment before disposal.  Category B and C wastes can be accepted at best practice landfills that have approval from EPA to accept such wastes. The aim of the classification system is to improve treatment standards  and achieve greater waste separation to help identify further avoidance, re-use or recycling opportunities.

The two key documents used to classify PIW are;

• Contaminated soil – EPA Publication 448.3 - Classification of Wastes
• Manufacturing waste -- EPA Publication 996 Guidelines for Hazard Classification of Solid Prescribed Industrial Wastes

All landfill licences have been updated to reflect the hazard classification system and to specify which categories of waste are acceptable.  There are different landfill levies for Category B, Category C and asbestos.

An introductory brochure, EPA Publication 1096 - Hazard Classification of Waste ( Adobe PDF, 549KB) explains the new requirements for solid prescribed industrial waste and contaminated soil.

If you have any queries about classifying your waste please contact EPA or phone 9695 2722 and ask for the Prescribed Waste Team in the Waste Management Unit.

 

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