2009
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About the report
This report provides an analysis of the current issues with waste data arrangements that exist at a state, territory and federal level. It identifies possible inefficiencies and inadequacies with current arrangements and the design requirements of a future national waste data system.
The study draws on the views of key stakeholders who work with and make decisions based on waste data, including state and territory departments, leading waste consultants, Local Government Associations, regional waste authorities and waste associations.
The report identifies the following challenges to development of a national waste data system:
- lack of administrative support for national waste reporting;
- inconsistent waste classification and terminology;
- differences in data collection and reporting requirements and methods;
- limited understanding of waste's life cycle impacts;
- aligning national waste data reporting with other systems (eg NPI and NGERS);
- lack of fundamental data sets to inform waste management policies, practices, investment, business operations and to assess and manage risk.
Matters to be considered in development include ownership, data prioritisation, stakeholder engagement, confidentiality, legislative change and comprehensive and strategic data capture.
The findings will be a key input to future design of a national waste data system under the National Waste Policy. Strategy 16 states that the National Waste Report will be underpinned by a national data system. An Environment Protection and Heritage Council implementation plan is being developed for this Strategy, with the first step to identify national data sets, data collection methods and user needs including environmental and business reporting requirements and administration.
The report forms part of a suite of research reports used to inform the National Waste Policy - Less waste, more resources.