Recycling

A supplementary question put forward to the Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) regarding recycling.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15:01): I have a supplementary question. Can the minister advise how many unlicensed sites are being used for the stockpiling of waste instead of waste being recycled?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:02): I am happy to take that question on notice and bring back a response.

Thursday 13 November 2008

In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (18 June 2008).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Environment and Conservation has provided the following information:

The EPA initiated a program to better understand the extent of, and address, unauthorised waste activities within the metropolitan region. Through consultation with representatives of the waste industry the EPA formed a taskforce to address illegal waste activities focussing initially within the Wingfield precinct in order to progress the development of a broader strategy and response to address illegal waste activities based on risk within metro and regional South Australia.

Twelve unauthorised waste management activities were identified within the precinct. The follow up action by the EPA has resulted in the sites either having ceased the activity, in the process of obtaining development approval, or have since been licensed by the EPA.

Since June 2008, the EPA has initiated the establishment of a state-based, cross-agency working group to deal with illegal dumping activities including unauthorised stockpiling of waste the objectives of which are to ensure a fair and consistent approach and clarify the roles and responsibilities of all government bodies in relation to the management of unauthorised waste activities.