This Act, consisting of 16 Chapters divided into 302 sections, aims at promoting waste avoidance and reduction, and resource recovery and efficiency actions; reducing the consumption of natural resources and minimizing the disposal of waste by encouraging waste avoidance and the recovery, re-use and recycling of waste; minimizing the overall impact of waste generation and disposal; ensuring a shared responsibility between government, business and industry and the community in waste management and resource recovery; and supporting and implementing national frameworks, objectives and priorities for waste management and resource recovery.
The Act provides for the preparation, implementation and maintenance of a waste management strategy for the State and of a business plan for the strategy.
The Act imposes levies on waste delivered to a levyable waste disposal site and allows for an exemption from the levy for particular waste. It also provides for the establishment of the Waste and Environment Fund for waste management initiatives and environmental initiatives.
The Act further provides for: preparation, implementation and maintenance of a priority product statement; product stewardship schemes; the banning of particular waste disposal; offences relating to littering and illegal dumping; strategic planning for waste reduction and recycling; reporting about waste management; granting approvals of resources for beneficial use; appointment of authorized persons to investigate matters; waste audits; court orders; etc.