There is limited accurate data available on Canberra's waste. An inventory of wastes in the Canberra region needs to be developed to identify all wastes being generated or recycled, including quantities, qualities and sources. This information will enable priorities to be set and assessments to be made of the full costs and impacts for each waste type depending upon space consumed, treatment required, and environmental consequences of the material being disposed of at landfill. This will enable benchmarks to be established and allow for the measurement of performance towards the 2010 goal. Smart Buying Developing Programs that will allow consumers and resource users to make well informed choices for minimising waste in their purchasing and production decisions.
Consumers can play a key role in reducing waste through their purchasing decisions.
Items that have multiple layers of wrapping are an obvious example of waste. Avoiding items that are over -packaged will impact on waste generated. Consumers are not given information on the full environmental costs of the products they buy in terms of manufacture, consumption and ultimate re-use, recycling and disposal implications. Reduction Agreements and Cleaner Production Establishing waste reduction agreements with key industries operating in the ACT and region. A taskforce was set up to negotiate recycling targets for 1995 and to establish agreements with specific paper and packaging industries.