NSW Environment Protection Authority

Urgent action is needed to relieve NSW’s waste crisis, and our wildly successful Circular Economy Summit helped put a spotlight on the issue.

We wanted to share some great images from ourt gathering last week, where representatives from industry, environment groups, councils and government met to discuss critical challenges and opportunities facing the state.

A huge thanks to everyone that attended.

Your feedback will help to further tackle the issue and shape government policies to ensure NSW has the capacity to manage waste safely now and into the future.

Without new waste solutions, Greater Sydney’s landfill capacity will be exhausted within the next decade, significantly driving waste management costs up.

Plastic-lined paper plates and bowls are now banned in NSW!

From 1 November, you’ll no longer see plastic-lined paper plates and bowls (without lids) in stores, food courts or takeaway spots.

This includes plastic-lined:
🍽️ Takeaway paper or cardboard bowls
🎉 Printed or coloured paper ‘party’ plates and bowls

But don’t worry – you can still use any leftover ones at home or for private gatherings! Just remember, they can’t be supplied by businesses or at community events anymore.

Looking for eco-friendly alternatives? Try plates and bowls made from palm leaves, wood, sugarcane, wheat bran, or plain unlined paper – or opt for reusable options! 🌍💚

Learn more about these changes and sustainable choices - https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/plastics/exemptions/plastic-lined-paper-plates-bowls-guidance?utm_content=1730784300&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

We were welcomed by Aunty Cheryl Penrith OAM last week to meet with the community about the Respect for Country Reform, at the Ashmont Community Resource Centre in Wagga Wagga.

EPA staff sat down for a yarn with members of the community, including Aunty Sue Bulger, Uncle James Ingram and Uncle Hewitt Whyman.

They discussed the three proposals on how to incorporate the value of Aboriginal cultures and knowledges in their role as Custodians for Country.

We’ve also just added a new Yarn Up event at the Moruya Bowling and recreation club on November 7 from 11:30am-3pm. Visit this link for more infomation https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/respect-country?utm_content=1730350380&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

And if you’d like to provide feedback on the proposals online please visit this link https://lnkd.in/gvYYGubr

And it wasn’t just Wagga. We hosted events like this in Port Macquarie, Armidale, Newcastle, Ballina, Gunnedah and Broken Hill in a series of yarn up sessions for mob throughout NSW to explain how embodies Aboriginal ways of Knowing, Being and Doing.

Halloween is such a fun time but it can be filled with unnecessary waste.

Why not:

Make your own Halloween decorations with paper and cardboard.

Swap costumes with friends and family, or find something second hand at an op shop.

Avoid single-use plastic like plastic partyware and decorations.

Scare each other but not the environment and

2 generations + 2 families + same outfit = zero waste

Halloween is such a fun day for the little kids AND the BIG kids but it can be filled with unnecessary waste.

Why not 👇

Swap costumes with friends and family, or find something second hand at an op shop.

Avoid single-use plastic like plastic partyware and decorations.

Make your own Halloween ornaments with paper and cardboard.

Scare each other but not the environment and

Would you like to save money for your business and reduce waste costs?

Bin Trim grants have saved thousands for businesses like Zero Co.

Learn more by visiting here https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/bintrim-rebates?utm_content=1729733100&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook...

We were welcomed by the Local Aboriginal Land Council at Murrook Cultural Centre last week to meet with the community about the Respect for Country Reform.

EPA staff sat down for a yarn with members of the community, including Aunty Lorraine Lilley, Uncle Neville Lilley and the Chair of the Worimi Aboriginal Land Council Ridgeway.

They discussed the three proposals on how to incorporate the value of Aboriginal cultures and knowledges in their role as Custodians for Country.

If you’d like to provide feedback on the proposals please visit this link https://lnkd.in/gvYYGubr

The Newcastle event was part of a series of yarn up sessions for mob throughout NSW to explain how embodies Aboriginal ways of Knowing, Being and Doing.

Click the link to find a location near you https://lnkd.in/gu6AdWVS

We want to give a shout out to some of the people and organisations that have gone above and beyond to enhance the environment and improve the standard of living and wellbeing of urban communities across NSW.

Blacktown City Council, Friends of Toongabbie Creek and Reverse Garbage are being recognised by the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities Awards Program this year.

Blacktown City Council is the overall winner, for its outstanding contributions to environmental sustainability and community engagement.

Led by Julz Strykowski and Murray Sayle, Friends of Toongabbie took out the EPA Litter Prevention Clean Communities Award.

Reverse Garbage, led by Kirsten Junor was highly commended for the EPA Circular Economy Award.

And the EPA’s Rupert Saville and Kathy Giunta were on hand to present awards. The EPA has been the major sponsor of the event for the past ten years.

NSW EPA is working with Fire and Rescue NSW and the Manildra plant, to facilitate a clean-up operation after two major wheat silos collapsed. More details below.

'Major operation' underway after pair of silos collapse, spilling 2,500 tonnes of wheat near NSW river Emergency crews have been called to the collapse of two major wheat silos at Manildra's factory at Bomaderry on the New South Wales South Coast.

The NSW EPA has been working alongside Fire and Rescue NSW, Transport for NSW and Port Stephens Council to clean-up a diesel spill, after a tanker collided with a heavy vehicle on Tuesday afternoon while travelling northbound on the Pacific Highway at Twelve Mile Creek north of Newcastle.

Clean-up is progressing however the majority of the diesel has now been removed and containment measures are proving effective.

Further investigation is ongoing to protect the surrounding environment.

Lots of good info here, stay safe during this wild weather!

The NSW SES advises people in the following area(s) to MONITOR CONDITIONS for forecast heavy rainfall:

Gosford
Sydney
Penrith
Parramatta
Campbelltown
Taralga

The Bureau of Meteorology advises a surface trough moving across central NSW today is aiding storm formation across eastern NSW in a moist and unstable airmass.

This event may change quickly. We will monitor the situation and update our warnings if the situation changes.

What you need to do:
Avoid unnecessary travel, move indoors, bring children and pets with you.
Park your car under secure cover and away from trees, powerlines and drains.
If safe to do so, secure or put away items, such as outdoor furniture, trampolines and roofing iron that could blow around in strong winds.
Grab your emergency kit in case you lose power or need to leave your home.

View the full warning: https://hazardwatch.gov.au/

Download the Hazards Near Me App and set up ‘Watch Zones’ to receive warnings in real time. https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/hazards-near-me-app

For emergency help in floods, storms and tsunamis, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Post current at 3:37pm on Monday 14 October 2024.

If you didn’t know, some changes are on the way for plastic food and drink packaging.

From 1 Jan 2025, some items will be subject to our single-use plastic ban.

Examples of affected products include:

◾ sealed expanded polystyrene cups containing dry noodles
◾ plastic spoons attached to yoghurt cup packaging
◾ plastic straws attached to juice boxes.

Manufacturers should be transitioning to alternatives like wooden cutlery or paper straws. Suppliers should stop buying these products and work to exhaust existing stock ahead of the cut-off.

Single-use plastics make up 60% of all litter in NSW. This change will contribute to preventing almost 2.7 billion plastic items from polluting our environment over the next 20 years.

More info here: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/plastics/bans-guidance/packaged-food-and-drinks?utm_content=1728876300&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Plastic waste is a BIG problem in NSW and we’d love you to Have Your Say on how we combat this.

After a resounding vote of support from the community that we take action, we are now proposing we phase out:

◾ non-compostable fruit and vegetable stickers

◾ plastic lollipop sticks, pizza savers and food tags for bread, bakery and pantry items

◾ the release of helium balloons - bringing NSW into line with other states - plus the supply of plastic balloon sticks, clips and ties

Please check out all our proposals and Have Your Say by visiting here bit.ly/HaveYourSayPlastic

If you are attending the REROC No Time to Waste Conference, or live in the Wagga Wagga area, please join us for a free Circular Economy Precincts workshop facilitated by Circular Australia in partnership with the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

You will gain deep insight and knowledge on how to activate circular economy in your local government area, why precincts are the place to start and who you need to work with to begin the journey towards circularity.

For more information and to register your interest here https://shorturl.at/V329m

** Update! Workshop will be offered online to regional councils. Please specify your preference when you register.

Love Food Hate Waste NSW Circular Australia REROC

The NSW EPA Local Government Waste Solutions Fund Round 3 is now open!

Visit https://epa.smartygrants.com.au to preview or download the application form or to start a submission. Applications close 12 December 2024.

The Local Government Waste Solutions fund supports local councils, collaborations of councils, and regional waste groups in the levy paying areas to deliver innovative waste and recycling solutions to help NSW transition towards a circular economy.

Up to $3 million is available in Round 3.

The EPA is offering one on one sessions for all applicants to discuss project ideas. Contact us at [email protected] to arrange a time.