Table E-1 – Reform options summary recommendations Reform option description Recommendation for inclusion in Cost Benefit Analysis Title Reform option regulatory status Reform option purpose Primary international obligation relating to the reform option a) Power to require provision of information Legislated. Correct an information gap or asymmetry. Annual reporting on hazardous waste. Assess. b) Recognise bans imposed by other countries Legislated or Promote the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes. A regulatory system applying to cases where transboundary (i.e. international) movements are permissible. Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as a quasi-regulatory reform. c) Updating compliance and enforcement provisions Legislated. Improve Australian hazardous waste regulation and/or reduced red tape. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Assess. d) Taking economic efficiency into account Legislated. Address a competition failure by supporting a competitive market or managing a continuing monopoly situation. Restriction of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, except where it is perceived to be in accordance with the principles of environmentally sound management. Assess. e) Updating cost recovery arrangements Legislated. Improve Australian hazardous waste regulation and/or reduced red tape. Reduction of hazardous waste generation. Assess. f) Increased transparency on the operations of the Act Improve Australian hazardous waste regulation and/or reduced red tape. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as it is a reform. g) Information on hazardous waste infrastructure Legislated or Correct an information gap or asymmetry. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Assess. h) Information on hazardous waste generation and management Legislated, or Correct an information gap or asymmetry. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as it is a reform. i) Power to establish agreements targeting particular wastes Co-regulatory. Address the market inability to deliver a public good. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Assess. j) Nationally consistent arrangement on hazardous waste data collection and reporting Correct an information gap or asymmetry. Annual reporting on hazardous waste. Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as it is a reform.
Table E-1 – Reform options summary recommendations (continued) Reform option description Recommendation for inclusion in Cost Benefit Analysis Title Reform option regulatory status Reform option purpose Primary international obligation relating to the reform option k) Powers to establish and maintain hazardous waste facilities Legislated. Address the market inability to deliver a public good. Restriction of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, except where it is perceived to be in accordance with the principles of environmentally sound management. Assess. l) Nationally consistent system for tracking hazardous waste movements Legislated or Correct an information gap or asymmetry. Annual reporting on hazardous waste. Assess. m) Harmonisation of regulatory arrangements Legislated or Harmonisation with other policy areas and creating a seamless national economy. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Assess n) Developing guidelines on specific hazardous waste issues Promote the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as a non-regulatory reform o) Nationally consistent system of hazardous waste levies Harmonisation with other policy areas and creating a seamless national economy. Reduction of hazardous waste generation. Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as a quasi-regulatory reform p) Nationally consistent approach to landfill bans or conditional disposal Harmonisation with other policy areas and creating a seamless national economy. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as a quasi-regulatory reform GLOSSARY ANZSIC code Australian and New Zealand Standard Industry Classification code. The (Basel) Convention Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary of Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. The Basel Convention was opened for signature in 1989 and entered into force in 1992. Department / DoE Department of the Environment. Environmentally sound management Even where all countries have consented, the country in which hazardous waste is generated must be independently satisfied that the waste will be managed in an environmentally sound manner. The Convention provides that this obligation ‘may not under any circumstances be transferred to the states of import or transit.’ Hazardous waste Hazardous waste as defined under the Act. Minister The Minister responsible for administration of the Act and Regulations.
Table 5 – Summary evaluation of the reform options (continued) Reform option description Reform option assessment criteria Recommendation for inclusion in Cost Benefit Analysis Short-form reform option title Reform option regulatory status Reform option purpose Primary international obligation relating to the reform option Does the option have broad stakeholder support? Are there signif. barriers that would prevent adoption? Potential for overall economic benefits Likely regulatory (financial) impact on industry Implementation timeframe m) Harmonisation of regulatory arrangements Legislated or quasi-regulatory. Harmonisation with other policy areas and creating a seamless national economy. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Yes Yes Significant benefit Significant benefit 5-7 years Assess n) Developing guidelines on specific hazardous waste issues Non-regulatory. Promote the environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. Yes No Moderate benefit Neutral 2 years Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as a non-regulatory reform. o) Nationally consistent system of hazardous waste levies Quasi-regulatory. Harmonisation with other policy areas and creating a seamless national economy. Reduction of hazardous waste generation. Yes Yes Significant benefit Significant benefit 5-7 years Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as a quasi-regulatory reform. p) Nationally consistent approach to landfill bans or conditional disposal Quasi-regulatory. Harmonisation with other policy areas and creating a seamless national economy. Promotion of environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, wherever the place of disposal. No Yes Moderate benefit Significant cost 5 years Do not assess. Consider outside of a regulatory framework as a quasi-regulatory reform.