Government policy that impacts on waste and recycling industry

CEOs and executive directors from the Victorian Government’s environmental departments will lead discussions at the Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo 2015 about the state’s environmental agenda, including existing and future programs that impact on the waste and recycling industry.

The event’s seminar program offers attendees an opportunity to access those closest to the rapidly changing landscape of local government waste management and reduction policies to gain insight into how they can adapt.

Speakers from across local government departments including Sustainability Victoria, EPA Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning will discuss key policies that have been developed as part of Victoria’s waste management and reduction plans with a strong focus on electronic and organic waste — both hot industry topics.

The program also features Solid Waste Director from Seattle, USA, Timothy Croll, who will deliver a live address focusing on how Seattle introduced laws making it illegal to throw food waste in the bin, the teething issues associated with this and the results to date. Croll will be on hand to offer the Australian waste and recycling industry strategies that can be adopted locally to achieve similar outcomes.

Introducing Croll will be Sustainability Victoria’s CEO Stan Krpan, who will also give the seminar’s opening address and discuss several of Sustainability Victoria’s (SV’s) latest initiatives including implementing the landmark Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan. Krpan said his seminar will be an opportunity to hear about the new role and refocus of SV in contributing to climate change and energy policy, as well as its work in engaging with communities to deliver key climate change programs.

Other speakers include: Kate Gavens, Director of Sustainability Policy at the Department of Land, Water and Planning discussing the Victorian Government’s commitment to banning e-waste from landfill and the industry and employment opportunities arising from resource recovery; Lorna Mathieson, Team Lead Marketing at Sustainability Victoria, discussing leading the development of the Victorian Organics Resource Recovery Strategy (VORRS); and Lisa Coffa, Waste Minimisation Coordinator at the City of Yarra discussing food waste avoidance programs in the great debate on the best way to manage food waste.

AWRE Event Manager Alexandra Haughton said that government policy is a key driver of waste and recycling industry development and as such is a major focus for AWRE.

“International and local government policy is hugely influential on how the waste and recycling industry operates at a local level, which has also influenced how we tailor our seminar programs,” Haughton said.

What: Australasian Waste and Recycling Expo 2015

When: 12–13 August 2015

Where: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

Web: www.awre.com.au