A recent report from the NSW Auditor-General – Volume Ten 2016 Report on Planning and Environment has found that the state can improve its financial controls and governance framework in the area of environmental protection.
In particular, the report shows that NSW leads the nation with levels of littering that have not been significantly reduced despite the NSW Premier’s priority is to reduce the volume of litter by 40 per cent by 2020. And while the report found that litter had been reduced by 19 per cent from 2013-14 to 2015-16, the levels were still above the national average.
The report found that there were difficulties in determining the level of illegal dumping in the state with limited information available to determine whether the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) achieved the target of reducing incidences of large-scale illegal dumping by 30 per cent by 2016, as identified in the ‘Illegal Dumping Strategy 2014–16’.
Increased funding has allowed the EPA to nearly double its investigations into illegal dumping since 2014–15 and implement other initiatives to tackle illegal dumping.
The aim to reduce illegal dumping is a worthy one. The report stated that, While there has been in the state’s litter volume over the past two years, illegal dumping is not taken into account in this measurement. Illegal dumping can harm the environment, increase waste clean-up costs and lead to lost revenue from avoided waste levies.
According to the report, that illegal dumping is an “environmental crime and can cause serious environmental pollution, pose a risk to human health, and impact local amenities and community pride. Cleaning up illegally dumped material is also a significant cost for local communities, councils and public land managers.
For the first time, NSW has a state-wide strategy, the NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2014–16 (the Strategy), designed to deliver an integrated approach to combat illegal dumping.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is charged with leading the work to deliver the Strategy, coordinating efforts of the many stakeholders working to combat illegal dumping, and managing the funding for that work.
“Significant funding is dedicated to tackle illegal dumping under the ‘Waste Less, Recycle More’ program and the EPA should have measures to assess outcomes associated with its illegal dumping initiatives,’ said the Auditor-General.
The “Illegal Dumping Strategy 2014-2016” released in June 2014 was designed to deliver an integrated approach to combat illegal dumping. The strategy identified a target to reduce the incidence of large-scale illegal dumping by 30 per cent from 2011 levels by 2016.
The Auditor General report recommends that the EPA should develop measures and targets to assess the achievement of outcomes associated with illegal dumping.
A full copy of the report is now available online.
