Nepc annual Report 2014-15

PART 3—JURISDICTIONAL REPORT ON ACTIVITIES UNDER THE NEPM

The NEPM sets out the information that jurisdictions are required to report on. This information has been provided by jurisdictions in their individual reports listed in Appendix 7.

A number of jurisdictions increased their NEPM advice, collaboration and compliance activities, while others focused on brand owner surveys or projects either funded by the Australian Packaging Covenant or under state-based waste reduction or recycling programs.

The NEPM contributes to better environmental outcomes by providing a regulatory safety net for the Australian Packaging Covenant.

Figure 1: Australian Packaging Covenant signatories at 30 June 2015

JURISDICTION	NUMBER OF SIGNATORIES
ACT	5
NSW	375
QLD	66
SA	54
TAS	17
VIC	364
WA	50
TOTAL	848

Kerbside recycling

Local government authorities have continued to collect data on the composition of kerbside recycling waste streams. The amount and type of data collected in each jurisdiction varies and, therefore, no direct comparison between jurisdictions can be made.

Further information is available in jurisdictional reports as listed in Appendix 7.

Complaints, investigations and prosecutions

Victoria reported that two complaints were received regarding compliance with the Waste Management Policy.

PART 4—ASSESSMENT OF NEPM EFFECTIVENESS

At the end of June 2015, there were 931 covenant signatories, of which 927 were compliant.

In line with Schedule 3 of the Australian Packaging Covenant, the APC Secretariat continues to refer non-signatory, non-compliant and potential brand owners to jurisdictions for further action. That there have been no complaints, investigations or prosecutions reported by jurisdictions indicates that the APC is working well, and the NEPM provides a sound statutory basis for it.

The NEPM remains a less effective mechanism in the Northern Territory as the major contributors to the waste stream are brand-owners not based in the Territory.

PART 5—REPORTING ON IMPLEMENTATION BY JURISDICTIONS

The annexes to this report are in Appendix 7 (see page 167).

Appendices
Appendix 1:

Jurisdictional Reports on the Implementation and Effectiveness of the

Air Toxics NEPM
Commonwealth

Report to the NEPC on the implementation of the National Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for the Commonwealth by the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for the Environment, for the reporting year ended 30 June 2015

PART 1—IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEPM AND ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Commonwealth implements the National Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure (Air Toxics NEPM) administratively and ensures that its obligations under the National Environment Protection Act 1994 are met.

In 2014–15 the Commonwealth identified no Commonwealth sites on which there was a potential for significant population exposure to elevated levels of air toxics.

At their meeting on 26 February 2015, Australia’s Environment ministers committed to finalising a National Clean Air Agreement by July 2016. Ministers released a discussion paper, Working towards a National Clean Air Agreement, which highlighted ministers’ commitments to consult broadly and explore partnerships with the community and industry on areas of priority including strengthening ambient air quality reporting standards for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone under the Ambient Air Quality NEPM.

In addition to agreeing to establish new ambient air quality reporting standards for particles by mid 2015, Ministers agreed to clarify the application of the reporting standards to environmental regulation.

In 2014–15, the Commonwealth, in collaboration with the States and Territories, continued to progress work to reduce emissions from nationally significant sources. The Commonwealth-led initiatives focused on wood heaters, which are a source of PM₁₀ emissions, and non-road spark ignition engines and equipment (NRSIEE), such as gardening equipment and marine outboard engines, which emit high levels of PM₁₀, nitrogen dioxide and chemicals that lead to ozone formation.

PART 2—ASSESSMENT OF NEPM EFFECTIVENESS

The Air Toxics NEPM provides a framework for assessing the ambient levels of specified air toxics in a range of locations and improving the information base regarding ambient air toxics in Australia.

New South Wales

Report to the NEPC on the implementation of the National Environment Protection (Air Toxics) Measure for New South Wales by the Hon. Rob Stokes MP, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Heritage (from 24 April 2014 to 2 April 2015) and the Hon. Mark Speakman, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Heritage (from 2 April to 30 June 2015) for the reporting year ended 30 June 2015.

PART 1—IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEPM AND ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES