Waste related legislation

The key primary legislation for waste management in Victoria is the Environment Protection Act 1970. Primary legislation provides the regulatory framework for society by imposing restrictions and controls on the activities of individuals and corporate bodies.

A central concept to waste management in Victoria is that of resource efficiency. The Act establishes the waste hierarchy for Victoria, which provides a list of preferences for management options:

• avoidance
• re-use
• recycling
• recovery of energy
• treatment
• containment
• disposal.

Under the Act, EPA can create subordinate legislation, such as waste management polices (WMPs) and State environment protection policies (SEPPs). Subordinate legislation is used to implement the policies outlined in the primary legislation (or Act) and its powers cannot exceed those provided in the primary Act.

Key subordinate legislation for waste management in Victoria is listed below. These instruments help to define objectives for environmental quality and programs for the management of specific waste issues:

• Waste Management Policy (Used Packaging Materials) 2006
• Waste Management Policy (Siting, Design and Management of Landfills) 2004
• Environment Protection (Distribution of Landfill Levy) Regulations 2002
• Industrial Waste Management Policy (Protection of the Ozone Layer) 2001
• Industrial Waste Management Policy (Movement of Controlled Wastes Between States and Territories) 2001
• Industrial Waste Management Policy (Prescribed Industrial Waste) 2000
• Industrial Waste Management Policy (Waste Acid Sulfate Soils) 1999
• Industrial Waste Management Policy (National Pollutant Inventory) 1998
• Environment Protection (Prescribed Waste) Regulations 1998

Also view the complete list of legislation administered by EPA, including all the waste management policies.

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