EOI: Non-metropolitan Summit
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Exciting times ahead as WALGA is now seeking expressions of interest to host a non-metropolitan Summit!
Over the past four years, successful and well attended Waste Summits have been held in Kalgoorlie, Broome, Karratha and Albany. These events brought together decision makers to discuss key waste management issues for their region. WALGA are exploring the opportunity to broaden the scope of the Summit to include environmental issues in the future.
Expressions of interest are being sought for the 2022, 2023 and 2024 calendar years.
If your Local Government would be interested in hosting a Summit, please email your completed Expression of Interest Application Form to WALGA Waste Management by 5:00pm on Friday, 10 June.
Download the Expression of Interest Application Form here.
For more information, email Rebecca Brown, Manager Waste, Recycling and Environment, or call on (08) 9213 2063.
Image Credit: WALGA.
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Shining a Light on Photovoltaics
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WALGA has developed an Issues Paper which outlines the key considerations for end-of-life management of photovoltaic systems.
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Photovoltaic (PV) systems include solar panels, batteries and inverters. It is estimated that the amount of these products reaching their end of life will increase by 1700% between 2019 and 2030 as first‑generation PV systems come off Australian roofs.
PV systems have been included in the Federal Environment Minister’s Product Stewardship Priority List since 2016, but to date no industry Product Stewardship Scheme has been developed. In November 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment engaged the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence to facilitate the design of a Scheme. An industry agreed nationwide Scheme design must be finalised by June 2022 and operational by June 2023.
The development of an effective Product Stewardship Scheme for PV systems would present opportunities for investment, mechanisms to capture products, and increase recycling and recovery of materials from these products.
The Issues Paper has been shaped by WALGA’s Local Government Principles for Product Stewardship and aims to provide the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence with a clear perspective of the key principles advocated by Western Australian Local Governments.
Read more about the key principles here.
If you have any questions about the Issues Paper, email Gráinne Whelan, Waste Management Specialist, or call on (08) 9213 2069.
Image Credit: Adobe Stock 310862677.
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May the Compost Be With You
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It’s that wonderful time of year when Local Governments can work with their communities to raise awareness on the benefits of composting organics and using compost.
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There are loads of choices for householders to compost food scraps and garden organics. These include home composting, worm farming, bokashi composting and using their FOGO bin.
All through the month of May Local Governments can boost awareness and encourage their residents to celebrate the magic of composting from backyard to commercial scale.
To get a copy of the WasteSorted Compost in May Social Media Plan, email Candy Wong, Waste Management Support Officer. Options for FOGO, GO and 2-bin kerbside systems are available.
Image Credit: Waste Authority.
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Rummaging in the back of your garden shed and stumbled across a water bottle filled with bright green fluid labelled ‘Do Not Drink Me’?
The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program provides safe disposal locations for householders’ unwanted hazardous chemicals, which includes unknown chemicals not stored in their original containers.
Unknown chemicals that arrive at HHW facilities must be identified before they can be safely transported by the Program’s waste contractor. A specialised company, with portable lab equipment, visits each HHW facility to identify the Dangerous Goods Class of each container of unknown chemicals. Once all the unknown chemicals are tested and identified, a report is generated which includes the ‘Chemical of the Day’.
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The WALGA Waste Team are both terrified and entertained by what chemicals are discovered in everyday containers from households. The Household Hazardous Waste Program is supported by the Government of Western Australia, through the Waste Authority and administered by WALGA.
Have some thirst-quenching questions? Email the WALGA HHW Coordinator or call on (08) 9213 2062.
Image Credit: Perth Chemical Specialists.
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HHW Program
The Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program was established to provide Western Australians with a safe, and free, disposal option for unwanted household products that contain chemicals or substances that can be harmful to people or the environment. Find out more here.
Image Credit: WALGA.
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Bin Tagging Program
The Bin Tagging Program focuses on reducing contamination and increasing resource recovery from kerbside bin systems by using a combination of information provision, incentives and enforcement. Click here to find out how your Local Government can get involved.
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WALGA COVID-19 Updates
Read the latest sector-relevant information as it relates to COVID-19. These ad-hoc communications are released as State Government announcements are made. Click here to access the archive. To register to receive these updates via email, click here.
Image Credit: WA Government.
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Waste is the Word
Want to share your waste management successes, promote a new project, have a key question answered or collaborate with other Local Governments? We want to include your waste management issues in our next newsletter.
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Resources
WALGA operates prequalified supply contracts to access goods and services at market preferential rates. We have Preferred Supplier arrangements in place for a range of Waste Management, Parks and Gardens, and Environmental services to support service delivery and sustainability within the sector.
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