Report 3: 2020-21

Waste Management – Service Delivery

Audit conclusion

Audit conclusion

In WA, kerbside waste collection at the LG level is largely effective. However, local, regional and statewide waste planning, and tailored support for LG entities, is inadequate. This has limited the effectiveness of waste management and the State’s ability to meet its long-term targets.

Most LG entities deliver waste collection and drop-off services that are highly valued by their communities. However, many LG entities are not effectively encouraging waste avoidance, nor maximising the recovery of waste by reusing, reprocessing and recycling. As a result, few are on track to help the State meet its Waste Strategy 2030 targets for 2020 to increase waste recovery to 65% in the Perth and Peel region, and 50% in major regional centres (MRC).

Waste planning by LG entities is inadequate and inconsistent, as most do not have their own up-to-date waste plans. Nearly 80% of LG entities contract out their kerbside waste collection services. However, they do not directly impose waste recovery targets on the private waste contractors, who typically focus on collecting waste. Preparing waste plans and contracts that clearly align to the Waste Strategy 2030 and address risks is an important step to help LG entities meet waste targets.

We found examples of good practice in recovering waste across the sector, but LG entities have not consistently adopted these. They include regular and consistent education, incentives for the community to avoid and reduce waste, and efforts to recover a greater proportion of organic waste and bulk wastes, such as white goods, mattresses and timber. If LG entities are to progress the State’s vision to become a sustainable, low-waste society, such initiatives need to be widely implemented.

The Waste Authority and Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) have substantially improved their support to LG entities since our last audit in 2016. However, both can do more to assist LG entities, particularly those in regional areas. A lack of infrastructure planning and accurate waste and recycling data, along with guidance on better practice waste recovery, has left LG entities to plan and manage community waste based on their own local needs and available infrastructure, which may not be consistent with the State’s plans and objectives.

Page last updated: August 20, 2020

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