Insert Your Company

Name/Logo
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
PROCEDURE FOR WASTE
MANAGEMENT

This procedure is the property of Insert Your Company. It must not be reproduced in whole or in
part or otherwise disclosed without prior written consent.
The official controlled copy of this procedure is the digitally signed PDF document that is held
within our network server and is visible to all authorized users.
All printed copies, and all electronic copies and versions except the digitally signed PDF document,
are considered uncontrolled copies which should be used for reference only.
 Insert Your Company Logo

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. APPROVAL......................................................................................................................3
2. PURPOSE..........................................................................................................................4
3. SCOPE...............................................................................................................................4
4. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS.........................................................................................4
5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES...............................................................................5
6. PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES.............................................................................6
6.1. Waste Management...................................................................................................................6
6.2. Waste Avoidance......................................................................................................................7
6.3. Waste Reduction.......................................................................................................................7
6.4. Waste Recycling.......................................................................................................................7
6.5. Waste Disposal.........................................................................................................................8
6.5.1. Disposal Methods..............................................................................................................9
6.5.2. Disposal of Petroleum-Based Products............................................................................11
6.6. Waste Discharges to the Environment....................................................................................11
6.7. Transport of Waste..................................................................................................................12
6.8. Incidents and Emergencies......................................................................................................13
7. RELATED PROCEDURES, FORMS AND DOCUMENTS......................................13
8. REVIEW CRITERIA.....................................................................................................13
9. RECORD MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................14
10. REFERENCES................................................................................................................14

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 2 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

1. APPROVAL
Document Control
Document: E-MP-12 – Waste Management
Version: 1.0
Released: Insert Date
Review Date: + 1 year
Prepared By: Insert Person Position: Insert Position
Reviewed By: Insert Person Position: Insert Position
Approved By: Insert Person Position: Insert Position
This procedure is reviewed to ensure its continuing relevance to the systems and process that it describes. A
record of contextual additions or omissions is given below.
Amendment Record
Summary of
Version Date Context Section
Amendments
To define the strategy to safely reduce and
1.0 Insert Date All Original
manage waste.

The latest revision of this procedure is on Insert Your Company intranet site.
It is the responsibility of the individual to ensure that any hardcopy is the current revision.
A printed version of this procedure is uncontrolled, except when provided with a document title and revision
number in the field below and marked as ‘Controlled Copy’.
Document Title: Waste Management Rev: 1.0
Uncontrolled Copy:  Controlled Copy:  Date: Insert Date

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 3 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

2. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to define the strategy to safely reduce and manage wastes within the
control of Insert Your Company.
This procedure details the objectives and processes to enable compliance with state and national
standards to safely manage waste, whilst ensuring operational needs are met.

3. SCOPE
This procedure applies to the processes by which waste is handled, transported and disposed of at
Insert Your Company workplaces, to minimize the impact on the environment and the safety and
health of personnel and others who may be exposed to hazardous waste.

4. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Term Definition
Material free of any apparent or actual pathological/infectious,
General Waste radioactive or hazardous chemical contamination. Examples of general
waste include cloth, plastic and Styrofoam.
Discarded material, which due to its quantity, concentration, or
physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics, may:
 Pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the
Hazardous Waste environment when improperly treated, stored or disposed of, or
otherwise mismanaged.
 Cause or contribute to an increase in mortality, or an increase in
irreversible or incapacitating illness.
Petroleum-Based Products that have been made from crude oil or its derivatives. These
Products include all oils, greases, organic cleaning solvents or solutions.
Prescribed Industrial Hazardous wastes, and wastes that can affect amenity (e.g. odour),
Waste generated by industry and listed in relevant legislation (e.g. Prescribed
Waste Regulations).
Recyclable Waste Any discarded material which can be reprocessed for re-use. Recyclable
items include paper, cardboard, aluminium cans, glass bottles, scrap
metal and recyclable plastic.
Regulated Waste Wastes that are non-domestic waste generated on site, as defined by the
Environmental Protection Regulation. These wastes must be handled by
a registered waste transporter and require disposal at an appropriately
licensed facility.
Waste Any material generated that does not have any further use and requires
treatment, removal and/or disposal.
Waste can be generated from a number of potential sources and has the
potential to pollute the environment if not managed appropriately.

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 4 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

5. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Managers are responsible for:
 Ensuring compliance with this procedure.
 Engaging an appropriately qualified and licensed waste contractor to collect and dispose of
waste appropriately.
 Coordinating all waste removal and liaising with the waste contractor with regards to waste
management.
 Checking that contractors are disposing of waste appropriately, and where possible, promoting
waste hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle and recover).
 Maintaining and collating records of waste materials on site.
 Maintaining documentation and/or plans as to the locations of bins including waste contractor
bin IDs.
 Ensuring that there are sufficient numbers of waste receptacles provided on site and that each
waste receptacle is appropriately labelled.
 Assisting contractors in determining optimum bin requirements from operational and waste
recycling perspectives.
 Requesting additional waste receptacles from the waste contractor where required.
Supervisors are responsible for:
 Organizing additional waste collection times and/or increase frequency of collection, where
required.
 Inspecting waste (i.e. litter) generation on site and inspect waste receptacles to ensure waste is
segregated into correct bins.
 Reporting waste management issues to senior management at the earliest opportunity.
 Promoting continuous waste improvement initiatives.

Waste Removal Contractors are responsible for:

 The provision of appropriately labelled waste receptacles in accordance with legislation.
 Ensuring prior approval for all waste streams to the Shire or neighbouring Shires landfill
facilities, where material is to be disposed of.
 Ensuring that disposal of waste is at an appropriate waste/recycling facility.
 Ensuring that waste is collected and disposed of in a timely manner.
 Providing records of the following on an ongoing monthly basis:
o Waste types removed from site.
o Quantities of each waste type.
o Final destination of waste (including dockets/documentation).
 Supplying enclosed waste receptacles for waste to prevent the attraction of fauna.
 Providing hazardous waste receptacles where required and organising the appropriate disposal
of these materials.
 Liaising directly with senior management in regard to waste issues, collection and disposal of
waste.
Workers and Contractors are responsible for:
 Completing assessments of waste generation prior to the commencement of work.
 Identifying and implementing opportunities for waste minimization.
 Inspecting their work areas on a regular basis to ensure that waste is being managed
appropriately (i.e. collection, disposal and segregation).

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 5 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

 Segregating all generated waste (including hazardous) and ensuring that all contracted
personnel place waste into the correct waste receptacle.
 Completing assessments of waste generation prior to the commencement of work.
 Liaising directly with their supervisor to organize the required waste receptacles prior to waste
being generated.
 Abiding by bin filling requirements and not overfilling bins.

6. PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES

The waste management hierarchy requires that waste products be managed in a priority of avoidance,
reduction, recycling and disposal.

6.1. Waste Management

Appropriate storage containers relevant to the types of wastes generated must be made available for
use. All waste materials must be effectively contained and when containers are full (or near full) they
must be emptied without delay.
A high level of housekeeping and workplace
cleanliness must always be maintained and
personnel must ensure that waste materials are
handled and disposed of correctly and not left
where they may cause any contamination.
All waste material removed from the workplace
must be disposed of in an approved manner that is
consistent with Local and State legislative
requirements.
Waste Segregation Containers

6.2. Waste Avoidance

Where possible, the purchase of materials should target those that generate less waste and/or materials
that can be recycled. This can include the use of the following items in preference to non-recyclable
products; an example can be seen in the table below:
Avoid Replace With
Plastic cutlery or wooden stirring sticks Metal cutlery
Plastic and Styrofoam cups Coffee mugs
Plastic or paper plates Ceramic plates
Synthetic packing materials Recyclable, biodegradable or reusable products
Paper towels Hand dryers, cloth towels which can be washed

6.3. Waste Reduction

The reduction of wastes can be achieved by using recyclable or reusable products such as those listed
in the table above and in the following section.
The purchase of products and services should be aimed at those that generate less waste. Preference
should also be given to those contractors who remove their own waste products from site when they

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 6 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

complete a job, e.g. some maintenance contractors collect used oils and greases they generate and
remove them when they leave site.
Where possible, equipment components from equipment maintenance activities should be refurbished
so that they can be re-used.

6.4. Waste Recycling

Where possible, all waste materials should be recycled and collected by certified recycling
contractors.
The general guidelines for recycling materials are as follows:
Item Recyclable Not Recyclable

Newspapers and magazines

Office paper
Waxed cardboard, tissue paper,
Paper Telephone books
paper in plastic bags
Cardboard, cereal and food boxes
Envelopes and junk mail

Ceramic plates, cups, crockery,

drinking glasses, light globes,
Glass All glass bottles and jars (remove lids)
pyrex, broken glasses, window
glass

All steel cans

Aluminium and Aluminium soft drink cans
Large oil tins, used paint tins
Steel Clean aluminium foil and pie trays
Empty aerosol cans

Soft drink and water bottles

Milk bottles
Plastics Juice and cream containers
Detergent and cordial bottles
(Recycle symbols 1,2 and 3)
Shopping bags, margarine,
yoghurt and ice cream containers,
nappies, motor oil containers,
polystyrene cups, meat trays,
plastic takeaway food containers

Cartons Milk and juice cartons

General site run-off Contaminated water (e.g.

Water
STP effluent Hydrocarbons)

6.5. Waste Disposal

All wastes should be stored in nominated storage areas for collection by waste disposal contractors.
Waste has the potential to have a negative impact on the local environment if it is not contained and
removed. If waste is not managed appropriately, it may cause pollution of groundwater resources and
the environment. Litter can also reduce the visual features of the area and become a hazard to local
fauna. Inappropriately managed waste may also pose health risks and encourage the introduction and
spread of pests.

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 7 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

All regulated wastes as nominated in Schedule 7 of the Environmental Protection Regulation are to be
removed off site in accordance with the Waste Tracking Guidelines. This includes the use of Waste
Tracking Certificates which should be completed prior to any materials being removed from site.
Regulated wastes include:
 Batteries – stored on pallets in bunded area and removed by licenced contractor.
 Used oil and oil products – collected in protected receptacles for removal by licensed oil
recovery contractor.
 Detergents.
 Grease trap wastes – collected and disposed of by licenced contractor.
 Hydrocarbons – stored and collected by licenced contractor.
 Sewage tank sludge – collected and disposed of by licenced contractor.
 Vehicle wash-down water – drained to the sediment dam and stored for recycling, where
possible.
 Tyres – database register to track quantities and placement on site.
Bins are to be provided around the infrastructure areas for the disposal of wastes.
Container Type Waste Collected
General refuse such as non-recyclable paper,
cardboard, and aluminium cans, wooden
Dark green bins / green or silver skips
products, uncontaminated plastic, putrescibles
(food scraps).
Black drums/containers Grease and lubricants
Brown bins (labelled separately to those for Regulated wastes – hydraulic hoses and oil lines,
hydraulic hoses and oil lines) etc.
Blue bins (labelled separately) Used oil filters
Blue cages or labelled blue bins Used air filters
Brown bins (labelled separately to those for oil Regulated wastes – oil absorbents and oily rags,
absorbents and oily rags) etc.
Blue skips (labelled) Scrap metal
Green bins with yellow lids Recyclable wastes
Cardboard boxes Recyclable paper and cardboard products

6.5.1. Disposal Methods

Waste type Example Disposal Method
Soil samples, mud
slurries, rock
Landfill via skip bin. The waste should be wrapped /
Inert solids samples, non-
contained so that it cannot leak.
toxic mineral
matter

Water soluble For unwanted solutions, collect in clearly labelled

10% hydrogen approved chemical storage containers.
liquids (salt
peroxide solution
solutions, etc.) Follow safety data sheets for disposal methods.

Non-toxic water Sodium chloride, For excess and unwanted chemicals, collect in clearly

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 8 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

Waste type Example Disposal Method

sodium labelled approved chemical storage container.
soluble solids
bicarbonate Follow safety data sheets for disposal methods.
Collect in clearly labelled, approved chemical storage
Flammable containers.
Ethanol
chemicals
Follow safety data sheets for disposal methods.
Salts of heavy metals – Collect in clearly labelled
approved chemical storage containers.
Heavy metals Cu, Mn, Pb
Heavy metals contained within ore – to landfill via
general skip bin (refer inert solids above).
Collect in clearly labelled approved chemical storage
Acids or alkaline Hydrochloric
containers and follow the safety data sheet for disposal
waste acid, nitric acid
methods.
Oils and oil-based
To be removed from site by a used oil contractor.
products
Notify senior management
Asbestos products Approved contractor to collect and dispose of asbestos
material in accordance with regulations.
Batteries – alkaline Torch, calculator
To landfill via general rubbish.
batteries battery
Batteries – lead Store in a bunded / delineated area until removed by a
Car battery waste collection contractor.
acid batteries

Batteries – mobile Recycle by placing batteries in bins provided at

Mobile phone
phone participating phone retailers.

If there are any small amounts (< 1 L) of unused LN2, it

may be vented to atmosphere only outside the building
Residues of liquid (well – ventilated) area.
Liquid nitrogen
nitrogen
Do not pour liquid nitrogen onto plastics or on top of
liquids.
Equipment
Plastic packaging General rubbish skip bin.
wrapping
Paper Place in recycling bins located in work areas.
By-product of the
Waste solids Removed by contractor.
triple interceptor
Tyres Returned to supplier.
Store in a bunded area until disposal by waste collection
Coolant Waste
contractor.
General hard
Collected and deposited into landfill via general rubbish.
rubbish
Metal/Steel Removed by contractor.

Paint thinners and Store in a bunded area and then to be collected by waste
wash collection contractor.

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 9 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

Waste type Example Disposal Method

Sanitary disposal/
Removed by contractor.
medical waste
Waste from fire
Collected by contractor
extinguishers
Segregate broken glass from general rubbish using a
Broken glassware, separate bin or sharps container.
Glass pasture pipettes, Non-recyclable glass to be disposed into general waste
slides skip, ensuring that handling is conducted in a safe manner
so as not to be exposed to a sharp fragment.
Cans, plastic Drink cans, milk
Place in recycling bins for collection by contractor.
containers cartons

Procedure for arranging contractors to dispose of chemical wastes:

 All waste must be labelled with the chemical name and whom the waste belongs to.
 Personnel to notify management of the type and amount of waste requiring disposal.
 Waste may be stockpiled until an appropriate volume is obtained for disposal.
 Dangerous goods storage regulations apply. Incompatible wastes are not to be stored within the
same area. Wastes may need to be segregated using drip trays to prevent any reactions if
containers leak.
 Management will send a list of chemicals and quantities to be disposed of to the waste disposal
company for a quote and confirmation that the company can dispose of the waste.
 Management will arrange a time for waste collection.
6.5.2. Disposal of Petroleum-Based Products
 All chemicals must be used STRICTLY in accordance with the directions given.
 Safety data sheets MUST be available when chemicals are being used on site.
 Correct disposal of all chemicals shall be carried out. See the safety data sheets for this
information.
 Care must be taken to avoid contact with hot surfaces and oil. Gloves and eye protection shall
be worn.
 Waste oil is removed from engines, transmissions, and hydraulics compartments by use of
pumps or gravity.
Solvent and Cleaning Chemicals
Solvents and cleaning chemicals which are used for cleaning or degreasing will be collected and
stored in drums marked "Waste Solvent". These drums are to be kept sealed when not in use. When
these drums are full, they are sealed and stored.
Oil or Solvent Absorbing Material
Oil or solvent contaminated absorbing material shall be collected and stored in drums marked
"Oil/Solvent Contaminated Material". When these containers are full, a contractor is to be contacted
to remove and dispose of this material.

6.6. Waste Discharges to the Environment

Where wastes may be discharged to the environment under conditions stipulated in a licence from an
authority (e.g. EPA), any departure from these conditions (e.g. larger quantities, higher frequency of
discharge, substances not stipulated, etc.) should be treated as an incident and the appropriate

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 10 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

corrective action should be applied. Where required, such instances should also be reported to the
relevant Authority.
Where required by the relevant authority (e.g. EPA), an annual return report of prescribed industrial
waste should be submitted to the authority. This should apply if:
 More than five consignments of prescribed industrial waste were transported off-site in the 12-
month reporting period; or
 The company has been granted an exemption from the use of waste transport certificates,
regardless of how many consignments of prescribed industrial waste were sent annually; or
 Prescribed industrial waste was disposed of, other than to sewer, at the site.
The dumping of waste (particularly hazardous wastes) in public
TAKE places or in stormwater drains constitutes an offence that the
NOTE company may be liable to pay for the clean-up costs.

6.7. Transport of Waste

Contractors used for the transport or disposal of waste shall be qualified, and where applicable,
licensed.
To ensure that waste taken by contractors is properly disposed of, and to avoid liability for negligent
discharge which may harm the environment, arrangements shall be put in place to ensure that the
written agreement with the contractor includes at least the following:
 Specific instructions that the waste must be transported, treated and disposed of in a way that
complies with all applicable legislation and does not harm the environment.
 Transfer of ownership of the waste from the company to the contractor.
 Evidence by the contractor that it possesses all the necessary licences and that the persons who
carry out the work are qualified and experienced.
 Requirement for the immediate notification of spills, leaks or any other uncontrolled discharges
or accidents.
 Demonstrated financial viability of the contractor (statement of financial liability).
In addition, the carrier shall be fully informed about the waste handed over and in all such instances, a
receipt for the waste shall be obtained and kept for at least five years.
Regulated waste shall only be transported in suitably designed vehicles, tanks, containers or
secondary containers that are appropriate for containing the waste being transported.
The design shall consider at least the following matters:
 The relevant design requirements prescribed in legislation.
 The corrosive nature of the waste being transported (e.g. acid waste must be transported in acid
resistant containers).
 The physical state of the waste (e.g. liquids should only be transported in drums, tanks or
tankers).
 The requirements outlined in the ADG Code.
 Any relevant Australian Standards.
In addition, all such vehicles, tanks, containers and secondary containers shall be maintained in a
good condition at all times to prevent any spillage or leakage of regulated waste or other
contaminants, and shall be kept free of regulated waste residues when not in use. A solid impervious
partition shall be provided to separate the load compartment or area of the regulated waste transport
vehicle from the driver’s compartment.
Exhaust from the vehicle waste pump must be sufficiently filtered as to prevent any aerosols being
discharged to the atmosphere during pumping.

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 11 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

6.8. Incidents and Emergencies

All waste transport incidents should be immediately reported and be the subject of an investigation
and corrective action.

7. RELATED PROCEDURES, FORMS AND DOCUMENTS

ID Procedures
E-MP-1 Context of the Organization
E-MP-3 Management of Risks and Opportunities
E-MP-6 Environmental Aspects and Impacts
ID Forms and Documents
E-MF-12 Waste Tracking Register
E-MF-18 Environmental Inspection Checklist
E-MF-19 Procedure Acceptance Form

8. REVIEW CRITERIA
This procedure shall be reviewed:
 Annually.
 When there is a change of method and/or technology that may affect the accuracy of this
procedure.
 When a significant incident or event has occurred that is relevant to this procedure.

9. RECORD MANAGEMENT
All records resulting from this procedure shall be maintained in accordance with the procedure for
document and record management and the documentation control register.

10. REFERENCES
Acts and Regulations
Environmental Protection Act
Environmental Protection Regulation
Work Health and Safety Act
Work Health and Safety Regulation
Environmental Protection Agency, Waste Tracking Guidelines
Environmental Protection (Waste Management) Policy
Waste Reduction and Recycling Act
The Waste Reduction and Recycling Regulation

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 12 of 13

 Insert Your Company Logo

Codes of Practice
How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks Code of Practice
Australian and International Standards
AS 4123 Mobile Waste Containers, Part 7 Colours, Markings, and Designation Requirements
AS/NZS ISO 14001, Environmental Management Systems – Requirements with Guidance for Use
Environmental Management Manual section 6.1.3, Compliance Obligations

© E-MP-12 Version: 1.0 Insert Date Page 13 of 13