1. Remote Waste Facilities
Towards Licencing
Sally-Anne Orchard and Fity Peehikuru
Environmental Authorisations, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
June 2019

2. Background
Objectives and management strategy
Legislative Overview
Example scenarios
Priority Facilities
Costs
How to apply
Questions? Concerns?
Close

3. Background

4. Landfills in NT A Northern Territory perspective
The National Waste Management Database presents the spatial locations of Australia's known landfills and waste transfer stations (Geoscience Australia, 2018).
An extract of NT landfill data shows:
140 operational landfills (excludes transfer stations, multi-purpose and reprocessing facilities)
42 ‘owners’ (local council and Aboriginal Corporation combined)

5. Local Government Areas - Northern
The waste facilities displayed range from:
small landfills associated with homesteads and outstations
larger facilities that service towns and remote communities.
Currently, only waste facilities in major towns are appropriately licenced.

6. Local Government Areas - Southern
Combined, Barkly, Central Desert and MacDonnell Local Government Areas = 65% of the NT land mass (ABS, 2018). Excluding Alice Springs -Only 7% of NT population (ABS, 2018). What is the strategy to identify sites of concern?

7. Objectives and management strategy

8. Strategy NT EPA Publications
NT EPA Strategic Plan 2018 – 2020 Waste Management Strategy for the Northern Territory 2015 – 2022
Key Priorities
Address the management of waste and pollution issues in remote communities - in particular illegal dumping and hazardous chemicals in our environment
Assess the status of landfill sites in the Territory to prioritise high environmental risk sites requiring operational improvement, impact monitoring or rehabilitation, including in a remote context;
regulate landfills in accordance with the objectives of the Waste Management and Pollution Control Act (the Act) .

9. Project Plan: Management of Remote Waste Facilities
Objectives
Identify and prioritise waste facilities designed to service over 1000 persons and/or handle listed waste on a commercial or fee for service basis;
Initiate action to require the relevant approval and/or licence to regulate the activity;
Conduct a desktop risk assessment of non-regulated sites to establish priority sites for assessment and regulation
Continually review and update information on unlicensed waste management facilities

10. Legislative Overview

11. Facilities that require an Environment Protection Approval or Licence
The NT EPA administers environment protection approvals and licences for activities listed in Schedule 2 of the Act. The activities associated with the regulation of landfills are:
Constructing, installing or carrying out works in relation to premises for disposing of waste by burial;
Operating premises for the disposal of waste by burial that service, or are designed to service, the waste disposal requirements of more than 1000 persons; and
Collecting, transporting, storing, re-cycling, treating or disposing of a Listed Waste on a commercial or fee for service basis.

12. Schedule 2 - Listed Wastes
A complete list of wastes included in Schedule 2 can be found on the NT EPA website at
Listed waste pose a threat or risk to public health, safety or the environment and include substances which are toxic, infectious, mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, explosive, flammable, corrosive, oxidising and radioactive.
Common Listed Wastes include:
Asbestos
Tyres
Batteries
Animal effluent and residues
Grease trap waste
Waste mineral oils unfit for their original intended use
Soils contaminated with a listed waste.

13. General Environmental Duty
Section 12 of the Act
Where a facility does not trigger the requirements for licensing, the facility shall be managed in accordance with Section 12. In summary, a person who conducts an activity that is likely to cause pollution resulting in environmental harm, must take all measures that a reasonable and practicable to prevent or minimize the pollution or environmental harm.
Demonstrating GED
An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) may be a useful tool in demonstrating compliance with the general environmental duty in section 12.
Guidelines for the preparation of an EMP can be found online at

14. Example scenarios

15. Remote Waste Facility X
Services
A waste facility at a community servicing less than 1000 persons.
Municipal solid waste and listed waste is accepted at the facility on fee for service basis as charged by the responsible council.
Is an Authorisation under the Act required?
Yes, Listed Waste is accepted at the facility for storage and disposal on a commercial or fee for service basis. Authorisation required: Environment Protection Licence
A licence is not required to operate a landfill that services a permanent population of less than 1000 persons that only accepts municipal solid waste

16. Town Waste Facility Y Services
A waste facility at a community servicing greater than 1000 persons.
Only municipal solid waste is accepted at the facility for burial. No fee is charged for this waste.
The council operates a separate transfer station at its depot for collecting and storing listed wastes on a fee for service basis. It holds an Environment Protection Licence for the depot site. Waste is later transported interstate for recycling by a third party.
Is an Authorisation under the Act required?
Yes, the council is operating premises for the disposal of waste by burial that service, or are designed to service, the waste disposal requirements of more than 1000 persons. Authorisation required: Environment Protection Licence

17. Remote Waste Facility Z
Services
A waste facility at a community servicing less than 1000 persons.
Only general household waste is accepted at the facility for burial. No fee is charged for this waste.
In the Dry Season the population increases for three months of the year due to tourism and sports
Is an Authorisation under the Act required?
No, the council is operating premises for the disposal of waste by burial that services less than 1000 equivalent fulltime residents. No listed waste is accepted.
The council needs to operate the facility in accordance with its general environmental duty (s12).

18. Priority Facilities

19. Resulting priority list
22 priority sites
Assessment of population data >1000 permanent residents
Assessment of historical licences or authorisations-lapsed
Confirmed listed waste handling – officer site inspection
Excludes – unverified listed waste handling
Excludes – currently licenced facilities
Compliance with the requirements of the Act is your responsibility.

20. What does it cost to apply for and hold a licence or authorisation?

21. Financial year 19/20 costs The first year Ongoing fees
Application fee: $417 and first annual fee up front: $417 = $834
Ongoing fees
Annual fee, each year.
Listed Waste handling fee (if handled): $ per tonne or kL, annually.
Fee to amend or revoke the conditions of the licence (if requested): $139
Renewal fee, at end of licence term = annual fee.
Potential compliance costs – site specific
Upkeep of existing management plans
Environmental monitoring (samples of soil/water)
Performance Improvement Plans potentially requiring physical site improvement
Environmental Auditing

22. How to apply

23. Prepare What is required? Apply Online
An application for a license needs to be supported by relevant site information and plans. The NT EPA advises that the processing time for applications can be significant and is largely dependent on the quality and completeness of information provided. Review information available at
Apply Online
At the link above, scroll down to Applications
Create an account or log in

24. When to apply for an authorisation
Timeframe to apply
Supporting information is complete – apply now
Supporting information under development – let us know when you will submit your application.
Just starting the process? Apply by April 2020
Timing to receive your authorisation
Approximately 90 days for complete applications.

25. Need help? Online Resources Ask the team
NT EPA Online - User Guide Application for an Environment Protection Licence Supplemental: Guide to Environment Protection Approvals and Licences (superseded hard copy guide – still useful!)
Ask the team
DENR Environment Division Reception:

26. Questions?

27. Thank You