To achieve a 60 per cent reduction of litter in NSW by 2030, and crack down on illegal dumping, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has today released two new draft strategies for consultation.
As part of the $356 million Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041, the draft Litter and Illegal Dumping Prevention Strategies are designed to improve source control, education, infrastructure, grow targeted programs, reduce costs and drive more circularity throughout waste systems.
NSW EPA Executive Director, Engagement, Education and Programs, Liesbet Spanjaard said both strategies introduce new programs and approaches for tackling waste and illegal dumping.
“We know the community wants a clean State now and, in the future, and these strategies are focused on achieving this outcome for our environment and the community,” Ms Spanjaard said.
“Everyone has a part to play, and these strategies outline the significant steps that we need to take to together to change our behaviour and reduce litter for the long term.
“They will also help to inform broader circular economy policy to ensure that leakage of materials from the economy in the forms of litter and illegal dumping can be accounted for and better managed.
“The EPA’s programs have already achieved great results, reducing litter by 43 per cent over the past decade.
“New programs like the Streets to Sea will integrate litter prevention into stormwater management to tackle the whole litter journey.
“We will also work to rollout the global initiative, Operation Clean Sweep which helps plastics manufacturers collect and dispose of small plastic pellets (nurdles) in the environment, as well as integrate single-use plastic bans and phase-out programs.”
The draft Illegal Dumping Strategy outlines how the EPA will continue to work with councils and state government agencies to address the difficult challenges of illegal dumping.
The Waste Crime Taskforce will continue to deter and disrupt waste crime, alongside the successful co-funded Regional Illegal Dumping Squads.
These new strategies build on successful programs such as Return and Earn, Don’t Be a Tosser, the award-winning ‘Free fill, is it worth it?’ campaign, and litter and illegal dumping prevention grants.
Comment on both Strategies is open until 17th October 2022. F
