4.5 Waste treatment

4.5.1
The NWMS Action Plan for Waste Treatment and Disposal focused on improvements in the regulation of all waste treatment facilities, including the revision and enforcement of air emissions standards. It sought to establish the status quo of these facilities and what actions should be taken to ensure sufficient waste treatment options for different categories of waste. It also aimed to ensure that treatment procedures comply with environmental, health and safety requirements.
 

4.5.2
A number of interventions have been put into effect to achieve the objectives of the 1999 NWMS. From a regulatory perspective, air emission standards have been reviewed and revised, and enforcement of standards has been significantly improved by DEAT. A review of the classification of hazardous waste is underway and an incineration policy has been drafted and made available for public comment. With regards to the status quo of waste treatment facilities, a great deal of attention has been invested in understanding the status of healthcare risk waste treatment, and demonstration projects in both an urban and rural context have yielded interesting results, which may address the challenges with regard to the effective and safe disposal of healthcare risk waste in poorly resourced environments. While the Department has taken great strides in relation to the priorities and action plans for waste treatment, it will be useful to ensure that all elements of the 1999 NMWS are fully implemented with regard to waste treatment.