Hunter Regional Waste Strategy Meeting 20 August 2013 - Minutes

Attendees

Name Council / Organisation

Lindy Hyam (Chair)

Meredith Laing Hunter Councils Environment Division

Bradley Nolan Hunter Councils Environment Division

Alice Howe Lake Macquarie City Council

David Simm Maitland City Council

Michael Alexander Cessnock City Council

Leisa Parsons Singleton Council

Aaron Malloy

Paul Turri Council

Alan Fletcher Upper Hunter Shire Council

Paul Minett Council

Darren North

Warwick Randall Council

Neil Pope Muswellbrook Shire Council

Gavin Cooksley City of Newcastle

Roger Lewis Hunter Resource Recovery (HRR)

Apologies: Kylie Watkins Muswellbrook Shire Council

Joann Williams Muswellbrook Shire Council

Action Items from April meeting The initial regional waste strategy meeting held in April 2013 identified a number of tasks to be undertaken. Details of these actions and activities that have occurred since are summarised below.

Meeting Action Progress

Hunter Councils Environment Division GMAC has approved HCED to facilitate the development to be approached to facilitate Strategic of a regional waste strategy that includes the following Plan councils: Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, Upper Hunter.

Appoint 3 nominees to participate in Paul Minett (Dungog Shire Council) an Advisory Committee to work with Michael Alexander (Cessnock City Council) HCED Aaron Malloy (Port Stephens Council).

All Councils to consider involvement in At the meeting it was noted the following councils were the proposed Regional Illegal Dumping interested in continuing to explore the RID Squad model: (RID)Squad - Lake Macquarie City Council - Singleton Council - Muswellbrook Shire Council - Cessnock City Council - Upper Hunter Shire Council - Maitland City Council - Port Stephens Council Newcastle and Wyong were noted as possibly joining, but could not confirm. Suggestion for the possibility of an Upper Hunter and Lower Hunter RID Squad, with request for Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens Councils to meet and determine which council would be best placed to host the regional coordinator. Similarly Singleton and Muswellbrook Councils were to meet to consider hosting an Upper Hunter RID Squad coordinator.

HRR and Port Stephens Council HRR tabled a report that provided summary details of requested to look at opportunities for Product Stewardship Schemes under development by the regional waste strategies on tyres, Federal Government. HRR also noted they are about to textile, bulk cardboard, chemicals commence a trial on collecting Polystyrene. Noted that the EPA funded Drop-off Centre program would be the most appropriate way for councils to manage chemicals and paints. HRR noted that untreated timber is an issue and would require further investigation for possible solutions. HRR further noted they were about to commence a trial in mattress collection and processing. HCED was requested to seek further information on the State and Federal Governments activities on development and implementation of Product Stewardship policies.

HCED & Advisory Committee to Questionnaire developed and distributed to councils to develop a comprehensive complete. questionnaire for Councils to Seven questionnaires completed and returned, the complete, to enable the initial regional remaining two (Upper Hunter and Port Stephens) to be planning activity to commence. All competed and returned asap Councils requested to provide information

Hunter Waste Educators group be Feedback confirmed that the group are able to be active contacted to review their capacity to on any issue needed. contribute to a regional education program

Those Councils with existing plans for Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens Councils nominated facility upgrades or installation to for early “drop off centre” funding and were successful. notify HCED immediately to assist with seeking funding from the EPA

Councils to consider their ability to Councils were asked to continue determining if they conduct business waste efficiency would be interested in hosting council officers to audits as part of the EPA funded undertake this work, but acknowledged that until the EPA program. developed the program and determined the activities, it was unclear if the required information and skills were available. This issue will be revisited when more details are available from the EPA.

HCED to facilitate the development of Funding application under development and due to EPA a Regional Strategic Plan and seek for evaluation on 26 August 2013. funding for coordinator from the EPA

Update on EPA Processes and Programs The HCED Team recently met with Steve Beaman (Director Waste and Resource Recovery) and Molly Tregoning (Unit Head Waste operations) from the EPA, to discuss the formation of a Hunter based RID Squad, and NSW Waste Initiative. RID Squad The HCED team led by Steve Wilson have worked with Councils over the last 18 months on a proposal and business model for the establishment of a RID squad in the region. The final proposal outlined and costed several models, with the preferred approach being the hosting and management of a newly established RID squad by one of the participating Councils. In late 2012 the EPA asked the HCED team to provide an additional proposal for continuing the facilitation of the discussions and development processes in the region. This was completed and submitted to the EPA. At the recent meeting with Steve Beaman, it was confirmed that the EPA remains keen to establish a RID Squad in the region, and funding was now available to progress the issue. (Following the meeting, Steve wrote directly to councils to confirm their interest in seeing a regionally coordinated RID Squad become operational this calendar year). In addition, it was advised that the EPA will, in the coming months, release a newly branded and designed state-wide illegal dumping and litter reduction community campaign that is based on updated criminology studies. The campaign will be designed to enable Councils to utilise the artwork and designs, and brand it with their own logo’s. It is hoped this campaign will dovetail into the progression of a Hunter RID Squad.

Regional Waste Strategies During the meeting, the EPA identified their intention to hold four funding rounds each year, to distribute the NSW Waste Initiative money. Indications were that annual funding rounds would commence in September in the following way:  Round 1 – Community recycling / drop off centres - Infrastructure grants will assist local Councils build a network of Community Recycling Centres across NSW for householders to drop-off problematic wastes  Round 2 – Organics infrastructure and collections - Grants will support local councils introduce new collection systems and community education for garden and food organics – which now make up about half of the average red bin going to landfill  Round 3 – Residual waste infrastructure - The Waste and Recycling infrastructure fund to support levy paying communities will commence with grants to support upgrades and enhancements of existing waste and recycling facilities. The grants will increase the capacity of existing infrastructure and assist councils, charities and the private sector invest in new innovative technologies to recycle more materials and send less to landfill  Round 4 – Business waste reduction Information received from the EPA on 14 August indicated the first three grant programs are anticipated to be opened in October 2013 by the Environmental Trust. Workshops will be held when the grants are opened – likely to be in October 2013. Further, we have been informally notified that in late 2013 or early 2014, grants are anticipated to open for infrastructure to process garden and food organics and larger scale Waste and Recycling infrastructure to support levy paying communities.

Waste Levy Review HCED provided a summary of the outcomes of the KPMG Waste Levy review. A full copy of the summary is included in Attachment 1. During the presentation, the following discussions were held: Recommendation 2 – (Household Organic Waste) the NSW Government should develop an education and community engagement program to support household participation in adopting best practice management systems. The government has allocated $70M to local councils to address this issue (amongst others) Discussion:  The group was keen to understand how the EPA was expecting to allocate the $70M over the 4 years, and how the allocation would be calculated to each council.  All councils were asked to consider what they would like to see as requirements and send through to HCED Recommendation 4 – (Recycling) Support initiatives and programs to improve the recovery of waste from the commercial and industrial sector. The government has established a $15M recycling innovation fund Discussion:  It was noted by the Upper Hunter Councils that mining waste, was in some cases, 60% of all waste to landfill. The lower Hunter Councils noted they were changing their pricing structures to dis-incentivise the deposition of this waste material at their facilities.  Singleton Council noted they were attending a mining company meeting and would raise the prospect of developing an industry project to see how this material could be managed and recycled, so as to not be delivered to landfill. Muswellbrook Shire Council indicated their desire to be included in the project. Lower Hunter Councils were interested in being kept informed of any project that was developed. Newcastle City Council noted they were happy to accept the mine waste at their Summerhill facility. No discussion was held on any of the other 15 Recommendations.

Meeting Discussion Feedback on Drop Off Centres Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens Councils were both successful in receiving “Pilot” funding through the Drop Off Centres programs (administered directly by the EPA). Summary detail of the facilities was provided to the group: Port Stephens Council  Build 2 new structures (13m long) one to accept the drop off of products, the other for storage of products  Utilised existing infrastructure, but relocated from current position to the new drop off site.  Will ne operational in November 2013  Received $100,00 funding from EPA to construct. Lake Macquarie City Council  Upgrade the drop off facilities at Awaba Landfill  Will be developed to accept paints, also fund the collection logistics and signage requirements  Must be spent by June 2014, although expected that an interim arrangement will need to be employed due to construction requirements  Received $250,000 from the EOA to construct. Dungog and Singleton Councils both noted they were keen to determine a process for seeking drop off centre funding in their own council areas, all other Councils would consider in due course. All councils were invited to discuss the process and drop off centre design directly with Port Stephens Council and Lake Macquarie Council.

Discussion on General Scope of the Regional Waste Strategy General discussion was held about the proposed scope of the regional waste strategy, although no firm outcomes were determined. All councils were requested to consider the following questions and come to the next meeting ready to workshop them. 1. What would each council like to see included in the scope of the Strategy 2. What are the priorities for each council in relation to the items to be included 3. What, if anything, would councils NOT want to see included in the scope of the strategy. It was generally acknowledged that items and issues that were subject to the various funding rounds and State targets should be included in scope to strengthen any submissions for funding. A desire to have, at a minimum, a DRAFT Regional waste strategy by the New Year was shared by all Councils. It was also requested that a common communication strategy be utilised when seeking to inform elected representatives of the process and activity of the regional waste strategy. Lindy indicated the Hunter Councils governance model of the General Manager Advisory Committee and Hunter Councils Board, would be best placed to provide this communications vehicle.

General Business  Suggested that as part of the Strategy development, consideration was given to what value the mining companies could add to the region, either as receiver of processed organic waste, or as transporters of materials (back-filling of trucks and trains).  It was suggested the old Hunter Waste Board and Resource NSW Hunter Strategies be included in the document reviews to be undertaken when developing the strategy

Next Meeting: October 22nd at the Local Government Training Institute

Action Items from August meeting

Action Status

Re-send Waste survey to Upper Hunter Shire Council & Port Completed Stephens Council

Lake Macquarie City Council and Port Stephens Council to discuss Completed – outcome to be which Council may be best placed to host a Lower Hunter RID provided to next meeting. Squad coordinator

Singleton Council and Muswellbrook Shire Council to discuss which Council may be best placed to host an Upper Hunter RID Squad coordinator

HCED to forward copies of the RID Squad studies to Neil Pope at Completed Muswellbrook Shire Council for review and consideration. HCED contact EPA to request information on the expected process to determine the council (and yearly) allocation of the non- contestable Local Council funding that was brought in to replace the WaSIP funding. 2 questions:  What is the funding per council?  What standards or requirements will councils need to meet to receive the funding? All councils were requested to consider what they would like the funding model and requirements to be, and to forward these through to HCED to develop a regional position to put to the EPA.

HCED to seek clarification on Federal and State activities and policies on Product Stewardship.

Cessnock City Council to provide copies (to HCED) of the Hunter Copy of the 1998 Hunter Waste Board Strategy and the Resource NSW Hunter Strategy for Region Waste Plan (from the inclusion in the document review. Waste Board) provided.

HCED to develop a schedule of forward meeting dates

Attachment 1 – Waste Levy Review

Background The NSW Government had engaged KPMG to review the NSW Waste Levy. The review proposed 17 recommendations to improve the waste levy, drive greater recycling, and better align future waste levy funding to stimulate infrastructure, combat illegal dumping and reduce littering. The NSW Government accepted the KPMG recommendations to improve the operation of the waste levy, with the exception of two recommendations (i) a greater proportion of the waste levy should be diverted into waste minimisation activities; and (ii) the levy should be applied across the entire State. Following are key details on the waste levy review and details on the levy application over the 13/14 financial year.

KPMG Waste Levy review recommendations Strong feedback was provided to the review from councils, businesses and community members and focussed on the need to invest a proportion of the waste levy revenues back into waste and recycling infrastructure. More than 70 per cent of written submissions raised the issue of hypothecated funding from the waste levy. KPMG recommended that for equity reasons, the waste levy should be applied to all landfills that receive more than 5000 tonnes of waste per year, regardless of location (recommendation 16). The Government agreed not to extend the levy at this time but to undertake a consultation process in conjunction with the Local Government and Shires Associations. The EPA will consult with councils likely to be affected by adopting KPMG’s recommendation and will undertake an evaluation as part of the comprehensive review of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 in 2013. The waste levy review provides a strong evidence base for a new waste and recycling agenda that provides value for money and delivers economic, employment and environmental benefits for local communities, and provides greater incentives to invest in new recycling infrastructure for NSW. The 17 KPMG recommendations are included below, together with the NSW Government response to each of the recommendations. Household organic waste Recommendation 1: The NSW Government, together with industry and councils, should develop best practice approaches for household collection to improve source separation at the household level. For example, some councils offer a lower fee for households opting for a smaller residual waste bin. The Government supports this recommendation.  The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) will work with local councils and industry to develop best practice approaches to improve source separation and increase resource recovery at the household level. Recommendation 2: The NSW Government, together with industry and councils, should develop education and community engagement programs to support household participation in adopting best practice management systems, for example, materials and media advising what waste goes in which bin. A portion of the waste levy revenue should be used to establish a funding pool for local government programs. The funding pool should be non-contestable and fund the delivery of education and community engagement programs that are individually tailored by local councils for their local communities. The Government supports this recommendation.  The Government will establish a non-contestable funding pool for local government programs totalling $70 million over 4 years from 1 July 2013 that will support levy-paying councils to develop local fit for purpose solutions. To support the transition to the new funding program, the 2012-13 Waste and Sustainability Improvement Payment (WaSIP) will be paid to eligible councils prior to 30 June 2013. The Government recognises that better information for householders will improve recycling practices at home. The EPA, in consultation with key stakeholders such as the Local Government and Shires Associations, will prioritise the development of education materials (including advertising campaigns) and community engagement programs that can be adapted by local councils for their local communities. Recommendation 3: Support investment in resource recovery facilities to improve the removal of organic waste and dry recyclables from household bins. A portion of the waste levy revenue should be used for establishing an infrastructure fund. The pool would provide funding in a competitive grant process for infrastructure for metropolitan and regional councils, and industry. The Government supports this recommendation.  A 4-year Waste and Recycling Infrastructure package will be established that includes $70 million in contestable grant funding for infrastructure, collection systems and community education targeting food and garden waste. An additional $60 million in funding will be available for waste and recycling infrastructure to assist communities in levy-paying areas. The contestable infrastructure funds will all be administered by the NSW Environmental Trust, an independent statutory body. Recycling Recommendation 4: Support initiatives and programs to improve the recovery of waste from the commercial and industrial sector. A portion of the levy funding should be used for establishing a Recycling Innovation fund. The Government supports this recommendation.  The Government will establish a Recycling Innovation fund totalling $15 million over 5 years that will support innovative projects and research and development to improve recovery rates. Recommendation 5: Investigate the use of the Recycling Innovation fund to support a reduction in metal and paper recyclers’ residual wastes. The Government supports this recommendation.  The Government will establish a Recycling Innovation fund totalling $15 million over 5 years that will support innovative projects and research and development by industry to improve recovery rates for operators of recycling facilities. In addition to the establishment of the Recycling Innovation fund, the Government will also grant a concessional levy rate to metal recyclers commencing 1 July 2013 of 50 per cent of the applicable leviable rate for 3 years, which will then decrease to 25 per cent of the applicable leviable rate until 30 June 2018.

Use of levy funds Recommendation 6: Up to 2015-16, any levy revenue received by the NSW Government that exceeds the current forward estimates should be directed towards additional waste programs. After 2015- 16, the NSW Government should look at directing a greater percentage of levy revenue to improve waste management and increase recycling. The Government does not support this recommendation.  Over the next 5 years, the total funding envelope for waste and recycling initiatives and infrastructure will total $465.7 million. Recommendation 7: The Waste and Sustainability Improvement Payment (WaSIP) program should be replaced and at least the equivalent funding be made available to local government through funding from the waste levy revenue for waste infrastructure, education and program support. Local government should have access to both a non-contestable local government programs fund and a contestable infrastructure fund. The Government supports this recommendation and will amend the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 to give effect to the removal of the WaSIP program.  The WaSIP program will be discontinued from 1 July 2013, noting the review report’s comments that funding from WaSIP was used for small and short-term projects and that a longer-term strategic approach is required. To support the transition to the new funding program, the currently allocated 2012-13 WaSIP will be paid to eligible councils prior to 30 June 2013. From 1 July 2013, local councils will instead have access to the $70 million non- contestable local government programs fund over 4 years and access to contestable grants under the Waste and Recycling Infrastructure fund and programs to tackle littering and illegal dumping. Waste infrastructure Recommendation 8: The NSW Government, together with industry and councils, should finalise regional waste and resource recovery infrastructure strategies that outline the investment required to meet the state recycling targets. A portion of the waste levy revenue should be used for establishing an infrastructure fund. The pool would provide funding via a competitive grant process for infrastructure for metropolitan and regional councils and industry. The Government supports this recommendation.  The need for regional waste avoidance and recovery strategies is incorporated into the regional action plans for levy paying areas under NSW 2021: A Plan to Make NSW Number One. The Government will support regional organisations of councils, voluntary regional waste groups, or other groups of local councils, with $9 million in funding over 5 years for regional coordinators and strategy development. The strategies will be used to support grant applications for regional waste and recycling infrastructure and upgrades. An infrastructure fund will be established that provides $60 million of funding for waste and recycling infrastructure to support communities in levy-paying areas. An additional $70 million in funding will be available to local councils for infrastructure, education and programs targeting food and garden waste. In non-levy paying areas, $13 million over 5 years will support the voluntary regional waste groups with regional coordination and infrastructure planning. The infrastructure plans will be used to support grant applications for an additional $7 million to support councils with landfill consolidation and closure, building and upgrading transfer stations, and environmental improvements to small landfills servicing rural communities.  The contestable grant funds will be administered by the NSW Environmental Trust, an independent statutory body. Recommendation 9: Establish an independent expert panel to facilitate infrastructure investment in relation to planning, procurement and delivery of infrastructure. The Government supports this recommendation.  Under the Environmental Trust Act 1998 the Environmental Trust must establish and refer grant applications to a technical review committee. To provide advice to the Environmental Trust in the assessment of grants for infrastructure and other programs, the Minister for the Environment will appoint a technical review committee consisting of persons with expertise in infrastructure, procurement, finance and planning with representation from the community. Illegal dumping Recommendation 10: Implement a state-wide Illegal Dumping strategy in consultation with industry and local government. A portion of the waste levy revenue should be used to establish a pool of funding for illegal dumping to fund the development of illegal dumping guidance, prevention infrastructure, and education and enforcement programs in accordance with the state-wide Illegal Dumping strategy. The Government supports this recommendation.  The Illegal Dumping fund will consist of $58 million over the next 5 years to underpin initiatives and programs within the state-wide Illegal Dumping strategy. The EPA has drafted a state-wide Illegal Dumping strategy which will be released for public consultation, including targeted sessions with local government, industry and public land managers. Recommendation 11: Increase local government, public land managers and the community’s participation in regional illegal dumping programs from the Illegal Dumping fund. The Government supports this recommendation.  The review recognised that a regional partnership approach involving a range of stakeholders was needed to combat illegal dumping. The EPA will begin discussions with key stakeholders including local councils, State Forests, national parks and local community groups to establish effective regional programs to combat illegal dumping and littering. Recommendation 12: Introduce a pilot program of accessible drop off facilities for problem waste and develop a state-wide education program in conjunction with industry and local councils to improve awareness and disposal of problem waste. This should be reviewed after 2 years and, if successful, then further drop off centres should be rolled out across all of NSW. The Government supports the recommendation for accessible drop-off centres to be available to the community for the disposal of problem wastes. However, the Government does not support a 2-year pilot program of the scheme.  Instead a 5-year $70 million Community Drop-Off Centres fund will be established which will provide funding for the establishment of new and upgraded centres across NSW, in accordance with Goal 23 of NSW 2021. It should be noted that funding from the Community Drop-Off Centres fund will include the continuation of the existing Household Chemical Clean Out Collection events. Recommendation 13: Introduce a pilot program providing a levy rebate to home renovators disposing of small, non-commercial quantities of asbestos, provided they have attended a council education session and dispose of the product. The Government supports this recommendation.  The EPA will commence consultation with the Local Government and Shires Associations and the Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authority to identify potential local councils to trial the education and pilot program. Energy from waste policy Recommendation 14: Develop a new Energy from Waste policy and continue to investigate and provide guidance to industry on new technologies available to increase waste diversion. The Government supports this recommendation, noting the EPA has developed a draft Energy from Waste policy for consultation.  The Government will release the draft policy for public consultation. Carbon price Recommendation 15: The NSW Government should not adjust the scheduled waste levy rates in relation to the Federal carbon price. The Government supports this recommendation, noting the review report’s comments that there is a high degree of complexity and uncertainty inherent in the carbon price that makes a policy response by the NSW Government extremely difficult.  The application of the levy across NSW is inconsistent Recommendation 16: The levy should be applied across the whole of NSW, with small regional landfills receiving less than 5000 tonnes of waste per annum remaining exempt from the levy. The Government does not support this recommendation.  Given that earlier KPMG consultations did not discuss the proposed application of the waste levy across the whole of NSW, the EPA, in conjunction with the Local Government and Shires Associations, will consult with councils likely to be affected by adopting this recommendation, including councils in the Regional Regulated Area, as part of the comprehensive review of the Protection of the Environment Operatioons (Waste) Regulation 2005 in early 2013.  The consultation with affected councils on the broadening of the waste levy base will also address alternative voluntary mechanisms, the practical application and costs of the proposed levy threshold of 5000 tonnes per year on existing landfills, and the most appropriate mechanism for dealing with new small rural landfill sites greater than 200 tonnes. The result of this consultation will be further considered by Government in mid- 2013. Landfill operator operational requirements Recommendation 17: The 10 per cent deduction on clean soil be reintroduced for all landfills. The Government supports this recommendation.  Regulatory amendments to enable a 10 per cent deduction on the receipt of virgin excavated natural material at levy paying landfills will be incorporated into the statutory review of the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005.

Attachment 2 – EPA Strategy On 7 August 2013 the EPA released its new 2013-16 Strategic Plan. The plan seeks to align the EPA’s activities to the NSW 2021 Plan and sets out how the NSW Government will deliver a range of community priorities. The plan includes a number of Key Result Areas, with the one of main interest to the group being “Innovative Waste Management”. This work area aligns with the following goals from the NSW 2021 Plan:  Goal 22: Protect our natural environment  Goal 23: increase opportunities for people to look after their own neighbourhoods and environments. Below are the outcomes, strategies and indicators included in the EPA Strategic Plan.

Outcomes Strategies

Waste Generation reduced  Use innovative economic approaches, such as the Waste Recycling increased Levy, to provide an incentive for waste generators to avoid or reduce their waste levy More waste diverted from landfill  Educate and encourage behavioural change to minimise the amount of waste generated through such programs as Love Problem wastes managed Food, Hate Waste better  Continue to work with the Australian Government, other Litter reduced jurisdictions and key stakeholders n national product Illegal dumping reduced stewardship initiatives under the Commonwealth Product Stewardship Act 2011  Stimulate additional investment in new or enhanced waste and recycling infrastructure as part of the Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.  Assist the community to remove problem wastes by funding a state-wide network of permanent drop-off [points and collection events for common household wastes, such as paint, batteries, gas bottles, fluorescent lights and smoke detectors.  Develop markets for recycled materials and encourage innovation in recycling technology  Implement the Energy from Waste Policy to complement material recycling and conserve landfill space  Implement education and community awareness programs to change social norms around litter in and illegal dumping  Support enforcement activity against litterers by increasing the number of trained state and local government officers with powers to enforce litter regulations  Identify and clean up litter hot spots and encourage the installation of public space infrastructure and appropriate signage to reduce litter behaviour  Establish strong and collaborative partnerships between the NSW Government, local councils, Regional Illegal Dumping Squads, industry and the community to increase opportunities for people to look after their own environments and discourage illegal dumping  Undertake strong waste compliance and enforcement to detect, investigate and prosecute illegal dumping and avoidance of the Waste Levy

Key Performance Indicators

 Growth in waste generation is held to the level of population growth by 2021-22  Recycling rates increase to 70% for municipal solid waste and commercial and industrial waste, and 80% for construction and demolition waste by 2021-22  Waste diverted from landfill increases from 63% (in 2010-11) to 75% by 2021-22  Improve the availability of problem waste collection services for 80% of NSW households by 2021-22 compared with 2012-13  Reduce litter by 40% by 2016-17 compared with 2011-12 levels  Reduce the incidence of large-scale illegal dumping of waste (200m3 or more) detected in , the Illawarra, Central Coast and Hunter Regions by 30% by 2016-17 compared with 2010-11  Establish a state-wide baseline for illegal dumping by 2016-17 and reduce levels thereafter.

HCED will endeavour to engage with the EPA to determine the various baseline levels indicated in the strategic plan, to enable monitoring and reporting against these targets.