Tough new environmental laws come into effect tomorrow

30/6/98

Tough new environmental laws which come into effect tomorrow will put Western Australia at the forefront of environmental protection.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the laws demonstrated the importance the Coalition Government placed on protecting the environment.

Last year Mrs Edwardes announced a major program of amendments designed to update the Act and introduce some new features to deal with environmental issues that have evolved over the past 10 years.

These laws are the first phase in the program, with the second phase due to be introduced to Parliament later this year.

"From tomorrow morning this State will have some new and powerful tools to protect our environment," Mrs Edwardes said.

Some of the most prominent changes will include:

·      a tenfold increase to penalties and offences;

·      the introduction of the Waste Management and Recycling Fund financed by a metropolitan landfill levy;

·      regulation of the selling of woodheaters and firewood;

·      establishment of Waste Management (WA) to manage the State's strategic waste management facilities; and -

·      amendments so that WA can implement National Environment Protection Measures.

Mrs Edwardes said included in the update of the penalty provisions was the introduction of a new three-tiered system.

Tier 1 is serious offences, such as harm caused to the environment. The maximum penalty is $1 million for companies and $500,000, plus five years' jail, for an individual.

Tier 2 is general offences, such as breach of licence conditions. The maximum penalty is $125,000 for companies and $62,5000 for individuals.

Tier 3 is minor offences attracting maximum penalties of $5,000.

Also from tomorrow, all waste taken to landfills in the Perth metropolitan area will attract a levy.

"We estimate that $4 million will be raised annually from the levy and will go into the Waste Management and Recycling Fund solely for the purpose of developing and implementing waste management recycling programs throughout the State," Mrs Edwardes said.

The two-tiered levy system will consist of a $3 per tonne charge for putrescible waste (like household waste), and a $1 per tonne charge on inert waste (like that produced by the demolition and construction industry). For the average household, the levy on waste will amount to $3 per year.

"The levy has been introduced as an incentive for industry and local government to look at ways to reduce and recycle waste, rather than dump it," Mrs Edwardes said.

"The less waste taken to landfill, the less levy paid."

Woodheaters and firewood also come under the spotlight to help tackle Perth's air quality problem.

"Under the regulations being formed, it will be an offence to sell domestic woodheaters which do not comply with Australian Standard 4013," Mrs Edwardes said.

"It will also be an offence to sell firewood with a high moisture content."

The limit on moisture content will come into effect in two stages. For this winter, wood merchants must ensure that their wood has a moisture content of 20 per cent or less. From winter 1999 the maximum will be 15 per cent.

Mrs Edwardes said that the limits would apply at the point of sale and would not control the moisture content of wood given away or collected freely.

Also taking effect tomorrow will be the transfer of ownership of the State's three strategic waste management facilities to Waste Management (WA), administered by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Under the new arrangement, the facilities - the industrial liquid and septage waste treatment plants in Forrestdale and the Intractable Waste Disposal Facility at Mt Walton - must comply with Ministerial conditions and directions. Compliance will be audited by the Environmental Protection Authority.

For more further information on the complete amendments, contact the Department of Environmental Protection.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9421 7777