5.6 Waste Management Measures

5.6.1
An important feature of the Waste Act is that it provides specific waste management measures that can be incorporated into the NWMS. These measures grant regulatory powers to the Minister, to be exercised within the context of co-operative government principles established in the Constitution and relevant legislation.

5.6.2
The NWMS will provide the context for the implementation of the waste measures provided in the Waste Act. In addition to regulatory controls, the NWMS needs to encompass both negotiated and voluntary applications of waste management measures.

5.6.3
The Waste Act explicitly provides for the negotiated application of waste management measures in the form of industrial waste management plans. Currently, domestic and commercial recycling takes place almost entirely on a voluntary basis. The success of recycling initiatives in terms of waste minimizations is dependent on public awareness, ease of access to recycling services and facilities, and the presence or absence of incentives.