Waste management is of increasing concern in this disposable society. A large number of household products, many of which are potentially hazardous, end up in landfills around the State. Commerce and industry create waste on an even larger scale. Correct disposal of this waste is important, not only to protect the environment but also for the health and safety of the community.
This factsheet looks at different categories of waste under State and Commonwealth laws. The majority of legislation on waste management comes from State law, while Commonwealth legislation for the most part implements international environmental agreements. The main categories of waste management covered in this fact sheet are under the topics of municipal waste, commercial and industrial waste, transportation, waterways, and radioactive material. For other topics relevant to waste see factsheet: Contaminated Sites, factsheet: Pollution, factsheet: Environmental Harm, factsheet: Industrial chemicals.
