Waste Management Strategy - full version - City of Whittlesea

2.1.5 Local Government ActThe Victorian Constitution Act 1975 states that local government is a “distinct and essential tier of government”consisting of democratically elected councillors.Victoria’s 79 councils are established and administered under the Victorian Local Government Act 1989. . Part1A of the Act contains the Local Government Charter, which describes the purpose, objectives, functions androle of a local council.The primary objective of the Charter is to achieve the best outcomes for the local community having regard tothe long term and cumulative effects of their decisions. In achieving this objective, councils must consider thesocial, economic and environmental viability and sustainability of their municipal districts. This ensures thatresources are used efficiently and effectively so that services are provided to meet the needs of the localcommunity (Part 1A, p19).Under the Act, councils should also aim to improve the overall quality of life of the people in the localcommunity, promote business and employment opportunities and provide equitable access to services andfacilities.All councils have a role under the Act to provide leadership for good governance, including advocating onbehalf of the community and acting as a responsible partner taking into account local community interests andneeds.Local GovernmentWaste management has traditionally been a direct service responsibility of Local Government. Councils areresponsible for ensuring that waste does not pose a direct risk to public health, wellbeing and the environmentwithin the community.Sitting within the broader state-based regulatory framework, councils have been required to provide andundertake municipal waste management services under the Local Government Act 1989. The Act coversservices associated with the collection, disposal, and treatment of municipal solid waste, including recyclablematerials.2.2 Key Policy & Strategy (National, State, Regional & Local)In 1992, the Australian New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) developed the NationalWaste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy. The strategy called for a 50 per cent reduction in total waste and a50 per cent reduction in the quantity of domestic waste going to landfill by the year 2000, based on 1990levels. The National Kerbside Recycling Strategy contained a number of waste minimisation and recyclingtargets for packaging materials to complement the national reduction targets. Voluntary agreements betweenANZECC and packaging industry associations were developed to achieve these targets but have now beenreplaced by the National Packaging Covenant (DEWHA and EPHC 2010).Waste policy in each state and territory is founded on the National Strategy for Ecologically SustainableDevelopment (1992), endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The strategy adopted anational approach to the more efficient use of resources to reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal,and to improve the management of and avoid the generation of hazardous wastes.Following the COAG agreement, all states and territories established comprehensive legislation and policy toprotect the environment and conserve natural resources (DEWHA and EPHC 2010). Many of these state-basedpolicies and strategies reference and use the ‘waste hierarchy’(refer section 1.4.1 for Victorian EnvironmentProtection Act 1970 ‘waste hierarchy’).Recent updates to state and territory policy and strategy documents focus on resource recovery andavoidance, with ‘Zero Waste’ strategies now implemented.25