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EPA - Drivers for Regionalisation

Max HarveyDirector Operations

Environment Protection Authority

Presentation, reference, author, date

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The drive to regionalisation

1981/82 263 rural local government waste depots

1992/93 209 depots 2003 155 depots

SAWMC Annual Report 1992/93: “Despite the economic difficulties rural councils are facing, many continue to accept the challenge of improving their waste disposal practices….The number of country depots continues to reduce”

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What are the drivers?

More environmentally sustainable waste management practices.

A more rigorous approach to compliance and enforcement by the EPA.

Potential for further legislative change through amendments to the Environment Protection Act.

Review of criteria that the EPA will adopt in the assessment of new and existing landfill proposals.

Development of a Waste Management Environment Protection Policy

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Sustainable waste management

The reduction of resource inputs, maximising the efficient use of resources and minimising the final impact of resource use on land, air and water.

Principal object of the Environment Protection Act.

Given where we have come from, it does present a challenge!

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Compliance and enforcement

Labor Government set new directions for the EPA:

Revamped the EPA as an independent authority;

Placed emphasis on enforcement of environmental laws;

Increased maximum penalties under the Environment Protection Act.

Approved additional staff for the EPA Investigations Unit.

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Compliance and enforcement

Notwithstanding, the EPA does seek to achieve environmental improvement through cooperative means - but we are seeking a maintenance or improvement in waste management standards.

To ensure that licensees and the public have an understanding of how the EPA initiates enforcement action, a draft Compliance and Enforcement Policy was approved by the Board of the Authority for consultation with industry, including local government

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Further legislative change

Proposed amendments to the Environment Protection Act, including:

Amending the definition of “waste” Introduction of civil penalties Post closure regulation, enabling control or

supervision of sites after the primary activity has ceased (eg landfills, timber preservation)

Causing environmental nuisance as a strict offence

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Review of Criteria

The EPA is currently reviewing the guidelines for design, construction and operation of landfills for domestic, commercial and industrial wastes.

Current guidelines have not necessarily taken into account local conditions.

Proposed to develop a system based on a risk assessment, factoring in both size and location.

Criteria will be forwarded to local government for comment.

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Review of Criteria

The classification in Minor and Major landfills will be replaced by three types of landfills based on the waste disposal rate and total landfill capacity. These include small (S), medium (M) and large (L) facilities.

Landfill type based on disposal rate and total landfill capacity

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Review of Criteria

Landfill Size Small(S)

Medium(M)

Large(L)

Waste disposalrate

(t/day)

<5 >5 and <25 >25

Waste disposalrate (t/year)

<1,300 >1,300 and <6,500 >6,500

Total landfill wastecapacity

(t)<26,000 >26,000 and <130,000 >130,000

(m3) <52,000 >52,000 and <200,000 >200,000Comment Proponents of small

facilities mustdemonstrate that it isnot practical toparticipate in aregional wastemanagement plan.

Assumed minimum wastedensity excluding daily cover

0.5t/m3 0.65t/m3 0.65t/m3

Landfill type based on annual waste disposal rate and total capacity

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Review of Criteria

A Key element of the new Guidelines are that Landfills are classified based upon:

– The waste disposal rate and total landfill capacity (Small, Medium and Large); and also

– The site conditions (Type B+ or B-) based on environmental risk to surface and groundwater

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Review of CriteriaFIGURE 2 - FLOWCHART TO ASSESS THE LANDFILL TYPE BASED ON SITE

CONDITIONS AS PART OF THE SITE CLASSIFICATION FOR LANDFILL DESIGN

LOW

RISK OF WATER FLOW INTO THE WASTE.

For example, from surface water, springs and seeps

or waste placed in water

DISPOSAL OF WASTE OF HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT

POTENTIAL FOR LEACHATEGENERATION BASED ONCLIMATE CONDITIONS

(Refer to Figure 1 for climate zones)

LOW

NO

SPORADIC

HIGH

For example:

•Sensitive surface water or groundwater values egpotable use, protection of aquatic ecosystems,recreational use.

• Small separation distance between the landfill baseand groundwater or poor attenuation and seepageretardation properties in the unsaturated zone.

•Evidence of groundwater pollution from the existinglandfill.

HIGH

YES

SEASONAL

TYPE B+SITE

TYPE B-SITE

RISK OF IMPACT ON

PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTAL

VALUES OF WATERS

POTENTIAL TO GENERATE LEACHATE

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Review of criteria

Potential for leachate generation based on climate conditions:

Derived from an approach used for landfill guidelines in South Africa.

Preliminary net water balance has been calculated for the wet six months of the year.

Sites with a seasonal risk of leachate generation are those with a net positive water balance at a frequency of greater than 1 in 5 years in the wet six months of the year.

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POTENTIAL FOR LEACHATE GENERATIONBASED ON CLIMATE CONDITIONS

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Landfill type based on wastedisposal

SMALL (S)(only considered if it is not possible to participate in

a regional waste management concept)

MEDIUM (M) LARGE (L)

Tonnes/day <5 >5 and <25 >25Tonnes/year <1,300 >1,300 and <6,500 >6,500Total tonnes <26,000 >26,000 and <130,000 >130,000

Landfill Classification SB- SB MB- MB+ L

Waste Body Waste Body Waste BodyGeotextileSummary of suggested

measures for the leachatecollection and containment

system

150mm base preparationlayer of reworked soil

In situ soil 300mm leachate collection layer(blanket)

including leachate collection pipes withinthe drainage blanket

300mm leachate collection layer (blanket) includingleachate collection pipes within the drainage blanket.

600mm thick compacted claywith k 1 x 10 –9 m/s

(minimum of 3 layers of 200mmcompacted thickness each)

(a composite lining system that includesa geomembrane overlaying the clay mybe required at some sites to safeguardthe environmental values of surface

wazter and groundwater)

1000mm thick compacted claywith k 1 x 10 –9 m/s

(minimum of 5 layers of 200mmcompacted thickness each)

150mm subgrade preparation (a composite lining system that includes a geomembraneoverlying the clay may be required at some sites to

safeguard the protected environmental values of surfacewaters or groundwater)

In situ soil 150mm subgrade preparation

In situ soil

M

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Review of Guidelines

Guidelines completed (consultation to commence by end March)– Screening and siting

– Site layout

– Environmental assessment and water management strategies

– Leachate containment and management system

– Management strategies for landfill gas and air quality

– Construction quality assurance

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Review of Guidelines

Eight standards and guidelines are still under review with draft documents expected to be available for consultation in June 2004. These are:

EPA Landfill standards for:• capping systems (compacted clay lining and alternatives)

• use of geosynthetic materials in baselining systems

• use of geosynthetic materials in capping systems

• closure and post-closure plans

• determination of financial assurance cont over

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Review of Guidelines

Sections under review (cont.) EPA Guidelines for:

• landfill environment management plans (LEMP)

• waste disposal criteria to landfills in SA

• operation and performance standards for material

resource recovery facilities (MRF)

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WASTE REFORM

The current Environment Protection (Waste Management) Policy 1994 deals primarily with issues related to medical waste.

It was established to carry over policies of the former SA Waste Management Commission into the Environment Protection Act 1993.

Since the Waste Management EPP was adopted there have been significant developments in waste management. Hence the need for reform:

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Environment Protection (Waste) Policy

The Waste Reform package will seek to: cover a wide range of waste types

set in place a broader range of measures to regulate the waste stream

ensure consistency in waste management activities such as landfill operation, material recovery facilities and collection standards.

incorporate the use of regulatory and economic instruments.

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Environment Protection (Waste) Policy

The Waste Reform package will seek to rationalise and improve waste management practise through three pathways.

– Waste Management Plans

– Source separation

– Codes of Practice or Guidelines

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(Environment Protection Waste) Policy

Waste Management Plans– Waste Management Plans will facilitate

consistency on waste management practices and the diversion of materials from landfill. Waste Management Plans may use tools such as;

• minimum standards for kerbside collection

• diversion targets

• industrial collection for specified wastes

• differential levies

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Environment Protection Waste) Policy

Codes of Practice or Guidelines

– The waste industry is very dynamic. It is generally

considered that the flexibility inherent in the use of

codes of practice provides certainty and regulation

coupled with the ability to be responsive to

changing circumstances.

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Environment Protection Waste) Policy

Codes of Practice or Guidelines

– Proposed codes to be included in the Waste EPP

include:

Landfill Operation

Controlled Waste

Waste Transport

Material Recovery Facilities

Composting

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What are the drivers?

More environmentally sustainable waste management practices.

A more rigorous approach to compliance and enforcement by the EPA.

Potential for further legislative change through amendments to the Environment Protection Act.

Review of criteria that the EPA will adopt in the assessment of new and existing landfill proposals.

Development of a Waste Management Environment Protection Policy