Sustainability in Government
Waste
The generation of waste can represent a loss of resources that could be put to productive use. Waste in landfill can also produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Australian departments and agencies can reduce the environmental impacts of their waste generation through:
- providing recycling facilities for agency sites that are at least the equivalent of local kerbside domestic recycling facilities
- consider the diversion of organic waste from landfill and into composting or other reuse
- ensuring that procurement processes are effective and do not lead to unnecessary purchases that then create waste
- conduct regular audits of different waste streams to identify opportunities for savings
- For more information, especially on product stewardship and hazardous wastes, see www.deh.gov.au/settlements/waste