The Defence Waste Minimisation Policy aims to reduce the amount of waste materials generated by Defence being

deposited in landfills. This Policy provides a framework within which waste can be managed effectively in accordance with the fundamental principles of the waste management hierarchy as well as being consistent with best practice environmental management and complimentary to the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD).

Defence can apply waste management principles in two distinct areas of its business; in procurement and operations. Defence has significant purchasing power and can make a significant contribution to stimulate the effective use of resources, most notably recycled content products produced by markets and service providers. Options also exist for Defence to reuse and recycle waste materials that are generated in day-to-day operation through to the building of new facilities.

Waste Problem
The diverse nature of Defence activities generates a significant amount of all types of waste from white office paper to food scraps in messes. This waste is a potential resource and Defence has the unique opportunity to drive the industry towards better management of this resource through its garrison support contracts and at the front end in procurement activities that reduce the generation of waste such as packaging and promote product stewardship.

What is Waste Minimisation?
Defence Waste Minimisation Program aims to cover six key areas of waste management:

• taking responsibility;
• improving the market;
• pursuing sustainability;
• reducing hazard and risk;
• tailoring solutions; and
• providing the evidence.

Australian Packaging Covenant

The Australian Packaging Covenant (the Covenant) is the third iteration of the National Packaging Covenant, which has been the leading instrument for managing the environmental impacts of consumer packaging in Australia since 1999. The Covenant is designed to minimise the environmental impacts arising from the disposal of used packaging, conserve resources through better design and production processes and facilitate the re-use and recycling of used packaging materials.

The Environmental Code of Practice for Packaging (ECOPP) is an integral part of the Covenant promoting excellence in packaging that is designed to have a minimum net impact on the environment, in terms of waste, water, energy and emissions, whilst preserving the integrity of the product. The Code is a statement of general principles for the design of environmentally responsible packaging. The more detailed Environmental Guidelines for Packaging (Guidelines) have been produced to assist implementation of the the principles of the Code in their product development process.

As a signatory to the covenant, the government was obliged to prepare an action plan outlining how the covenant will be implemented in its business operations. The plan introduces new initiatives to improve packaging waste management across government operations. The plan may be amended at any time to reflect emerging priorities and initiatives.

Key initiatives to achieve the 3 overarching goals (Design, recycling and product stewardship)

• Implement the covenants sustainable packaging guidelines
• Implement recovery systems for used packaging materials/paper
• Purchasing products that include recycled materials

The National Environment Protection Measure (Used Packaging Materials) 1999 goal is to reduce environmental degradation arising from the disposal of used packaging and conserve virgin materials through the encouragement of waste avoidance and the re-use and recycling of used packaging materials by supporting and complementing the voluntary strategies in the Covenant and by assisting the assessment of the performance of the Covenant.

Contacts

For further information on Defence's Waste Program please contact the Director of Energy Efficiency and Resource Management (DEERM).