About Re-thinking Waste
Background
The Environment, Heritage and the Arts Division seeks to continue building on the outcomes of the Northern Territory Litter Abatement and Resource Recovery Strategy (LARRS). LARRS and its Implementation Plan were adopted in 2003 with a timeframe of three years (now expired). LARRS was delivered in partnership with the Beverage Industry Environment Council (BIEC) which provided annual funding to the Northern Territory Government as an industry commitment under the National Packaging Covenant.
An internal review of LARRS found that the program needed to be more strategic and collaborative. This lead to a new approach to build on the success of LARRS and the development of a new partnership with the Packaging Stewardship Forum (PSF).
The Packaging Stewardship Forum was established in May 2006 as a forum of the Australian Food and Grocery Council. The Forum aims to significantly increase government, industry and community understanding of resource recovery and litter management through the delivery of projects throughout Australia, either directly or in partnership with others. Its focus is on providing cost-effective resource recovery and litter reduction solutions that deliver real and measurable outcomes.
The Forum’s highly successful Do The Right Thing anti-litter campaign has proven to be the strongest litter prevention message since it was implemented, leading to a 70% reduction in litter in NSW between 1979 and 1990. Today Do The Right Thing is stronger than ever, with more than 80% of people recognising that Do The Right Thing means put your waste in the bin. Throughout Australia more than 180 towns and cities are taking the Do The Right Thing message to their communities.
The Forum is also a major sponsor of Keep Australia Beautiful in the Northern Territory and nationally, sponsoring Tidy Towns and Sustainable Communities Awards in every state during 2007-08.
To find out more about the Packaging Stewardship Forum see: www.afgc.org.au/psf
Interim Action Plan
The 2007 Re-thinking Waste Disposal Behaviour & Resource Efficiency Interim Action Plan has been developed and identifies key areas requiring investment and agency action.
This interim action plan proposes to use the funding support from the Northern Territory Government’s EnvironmeNT Grants and PSF for priority actions to address outstanding issues and to follow up on outcomes of the LARRS Program. It endeavours to find opportunities to integrate resource recovery and litter management with regional development and capacity building and represents an initial step in developing a longer-term waste management framework for the Territory.
Goals
- To identify effective incentives for appropriate disposal behaviour in the NT;
- To identify opportunities to maximise resource efficiency and minimise environmental impacts in the NT;
- To establish a sustainable resource-not-waste management framework and effective implementation mechanisms; and
- To promote greater awareness of resource efficiency issues in the NT.
Drivers
- Environmental responsibility – good governance;
- Sustainable development / remote community development;
- Stewardship / recognising limited resource base and future needs; and
- Meeting National Environment Protection (Used Packaging Materials) Measure responsibilities.
Principles
- Waste minimisation hierarchy – avoid, reduce, re-use and recycle;
- Shared responsibility - product stewardship and co regulation;
- Re-think Waste - promoting public involvement, understanding and confidence;
- Develop incentives to Re-think Resources – opportunities for regional development;
- Working together - integrated - whole of government – regional/community partnerships;
- Polluter pays; and
- Intergenerational equity.
Projects
The three priority investment areas are:
A: Education Programs
- Project A.1 Building Better community education resources; and
- Project A.2 Re-thinking Waste-in-Schools education programs.
B: Regional / Industry Development Projects
- Project B.1 local government capacity building / regional development projects; and
- Project B.2 Industry partnerships to promote engagement in product stewardship and waste minimisation / resource efficiency programs.
C: Re-thinking Waste Governance Projects
- Project C.1 meeting the Territory’s obligations under the National Environmental Protection Measure (Used Packaging Materials); and
- Project C.2 Government Agency Waste Management Plans
Progress Reports
As part of the Agreement between PSF and the EPA Program, progress reports are due every quarter. Please see links to progress reports below:
