Introduction Sustainability Victoria (SV) undertook public consultation on draft amendments to the Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan (SWRRIP) between 1 August and 14 September 2017. SV wishes to thank all individuals and organisations that submitted feedback on the draft amendments. This feedback has been critical in the development of the 2018 SWRRIP. A total of 854 written submissions were received on the draft amendments during the consultation period from the community, local government, waste and resource recovery groups (WRRGs), industry and land developers. These comprised 30 individual submissions and 824 identical email submissions from 559 individual ’Stop the Tip’ supporters. This report provides an overview of the consultation process and an outline of key feedback themes and responses, including how this feedback informed the 2018 iteration of the SWRRIP. Background Launched in June 2015, the SWRRIP is led by SV on behalf of the Victorian Government. The vision of the SWRRIP is to develop an integrated statewide waste and resource recovery system that continues to provide an essential community service. The SWRRIP 2015 was the first of its kind in Australia to provide a long-term vision and roadmap to guide future planning for waste and resource recovery infrastructure in the state. Amendments to the SWRRIP SV identified the need to amend the SWRRIP to reflect regional infrastructure needs and priorities from the seven Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plans (Regional Implementation Plans), which were developed with local communities as part of an integrated approach to planning and published over 2016 and 2017. SV also updated data and clarified elements in the SWRRIP to reflect changes in policy, strategy and broader government activities.
Theme: Protecting our communities and the environment This theme encompasses feedback relating to the protection of communities, environment and public health from the negative impacts of the waste and resource recovery sector. It also includes feedback relating to compliance and enforcement in the sector, penalties for changes to legislation, and feedback relating to the principle of ‘environmental justice’ and the concept of a ‘social licence to operate’ waste and resource recovery infrastructure. 569 submissions were received relating to this theme. 559 of these were identical submissions from ‘Stop the Tip’ supporters. Number of submissions relating to this theme by stakeholder type Stakeholder type Submissions Local Government 5 Industry 1 Land developers 0 Regional Groups 0 Community 563 No Feedback Response 13 22 31 The SWRRIP should demonstrate stronger commitment to the Precautionary Principle by giving greater weight to better community, environment and public health outcomes before economic viability and markets for end products. Currently the environment is largely dealt with only as an aspect of community amenity. The principles in the EP Act underpin the goals and strategic directions of the SWRRIP which includes the principle of integration of economic, social and environmental considerations. These are reflected throughout the document. In addition: The SWRRIP provides guidance for everyone making decisions relating to or impacting on the waste and resource recovery sector. To support this Chapter 2.4 includes clearer information on consistency with the SWRRIP. Long term diversion of materials from landfill requires viable recycling. If it is not viable then systems can fail and adverse outcomes can occur. The factors that influence viability vary for each material stream and situation but include: Improved outcomes for the community compared to if the material was landfilled A positive economic business case to attract investment in the required infrastructure (investment could be private, government, community sector or households) A market for the recovered materials or end products. CHANGE: The message that minimising the impact on the environment, as well on communities, is a goal of the SWRRIP has been strengthened.
Section 3.1 provides guidance for land use planners. Land use planning advice can be sought from SV via 3 4 13 20 21 Hub Descriptions Feedback was received on the descriptions of the following hubs of state importance in table 7.2: Ravenhall Precinct Ravenhall Precinct (including Boral Quarry, Cleanaway Melbourne Regional Landfill Ravenhall) Cooper Street Precinct Veolia Organics Facility and High Quality Solid Inert Landfill, Bulla Clayton South Precinct Corangamite Regional Landfill, Naroghid Mildura Landfill CHANGE: SV liaised with the relevant WRRG to update the descriptions of hubs of state importance (Table 3.2), and in some instances discussed with operators. Theme: Infrastructure Scheduling This theme encompasses feedback relating to the evidence base for assessing future infrastructure needs, the process of scheduling new landfills, responsibility for scheduling new landfills, the economic impact of reducing reliance on landfills (SWRRIP Strategic Direction 2), and the process of closing landfill sites and determining future use. 573 submissions were received relating to this theme. 559 of these were identical submissions from ‘Stop the Tip’ supporters. Number of submissions relating to this theme by stakeholder type Stakeholder type Submissions Local Government 5 Industry 2 Land developers 2 Regional Groups 0 Community 564 No Feedback Response 1 11 14* 15 16 30 Why are we still scheduling landfills when we should be focusing on recovering all materials? Why are we still putting materials in landfills that could be Historically, landfills have played a necessary role in the sanitary management of wastes. Reducing our reliance on landfills is one of the four goals of the SWRRIP and many of the actions focus on increasing the recovery of resources, which will reduce the materials going to landfill. Whilst significant increases in recovery may be achieved, landfills will continue to be required. The goal is that that they will only be used to manage potential adverse impacts from the waste that cannot be viably recovered or may arise from events such as fire and floods. This is discussed in various sections of the SWRRIP including Section 6.8
WRRGs have committed to reviewing their infrastructure schedules within five years. 1 10 23 30 Landfills are being closed in the South East of the Melbourne Metropolitan area resulting in waste being transported across to the west. This not viable for local government in the future. The Metropolitan WRRG have commenced collaborating with local governments in the south-east to identify options for the management of residual waste (as well as options to recover more waste). This is a key action of the Metropolitan Implementation Plan. *Represents the 559 individual submissions from ‘Stop the Tip’ supporters. Theme: Increasing recovery through supporting industry and developing markets This theme encompasses feedback relating to market development opportunities for recovered materials, including government support for industry, research and development opportunities, and sustainable procurement policies. Feedback also related to the economic impact of landfill gate fees in developing sustainable markets, the global drivers impacting markets for recovered materials and highlighted past failures relating to the State’s waste and resource recovery sector. Fourteen submissions included feedback relating to this theme. Number of submissions relating to this theme by stakeholder type Stakeholder type Submissions Local Government 8 Industry 2 Land developers 0 Regional Groups 1 Community 3 No Feedback Response 7 11 16 20 24 25 28 30 Creating market demand Generating market demand through creating markets for recovered goods is pivotal to increasing recovery. This could be supported by Government agencies being required to purchasing product made with recycled content Market development is critical and more information is needed on how the Government is going to support this Solutions are required to increase the recovery of food organics from commercial generators, flexible plastics and glass fines A key strategy to achieve the SWRRIP goals is the Victorian Market Development Strategy for Recovered Resources (Market Development Strategy), discussed specifically in Section 2.3.2 and throughout the SWRRIP. The Market Development Strategy: identifies organics (including timber), rubber (tyres), flexible plastics, glass fines and aggregates, masonry and soils as priority materials. supports researchers and industry to find ways of turning hard-to-recycle materials into valuable products – seven projects from five Victorian universities and industry partners have been funded to develop and expand markets for recovered glass fines and flexible plastics by creating high-value products information can be found on the SV website The Market Development Strategy and Sections 2.2.1 and 2.3.5 discuss the role of government procurement to support developing markets for recycled and recovered products by leveraging opportunities for procurement of
Yarra Ranges Council Local Government 1 1 1 Monash City Council Local Government 1 1 1 1 1 Waste Management Association of Australia Industry 1 1 1 Loddon Mallee WRRG WRRG Melton City Local Government 1 1 1 1 1 1 Confidential WRRG 1 1 1 Confidential Industry Whitehorse City Council Local Government 1 1 1 1 Peter Kronborg Community 1 1 1 TOTAL 11 14 3 5 9 3 2 4 2