Our View

Solid waste disposal expectations and practices in the community have changed markedly over the last decade. This has been in response to problems with ground and surface water contamination, odour, litter, and health concerns in nearby communities. Because of increased costs and community concerns, major recycling and reuse programs have started to operate in many communities.

Communities expect industry to follow a responsible waste disposal program. The most economical means of responding to community expectations is to reduce waste at the source. Benefits of a waste-reduction (cleaner production) program include:

• reduced production costs through greater efficiency;
• more efficient use of materials;
• increased productivity and possibly improved product quality;
• reduced energy consumption;
• recovery of valuable by-products; and
• less waste disposal costs, including lower charges for waste treatment.

Cleaner production does not always need a big outlay or high technology. Many savings can result from relatively simple housekeeping improvements.

Some wastes that we generate are potentially hazardous to people and the environment. There are many legal requirements for the disposal of such wastes all of which we must satisfactorily meet.

Many of our processes produce by-products which may be of little immediate value, but which may be of value in the future. These are regarded as residues rather than wastes and must be stored appropriately.

Our Environmental Commitment

In WMC, we will:

• characterise and prepare inventories of all wastes and residues.
• prepare management plans that include procedures for handling, storage, transportation and disposal of wastes and residues.
• minimise waste by using the principles of source reduction, substitution, reuse, recycling/recovery, reprocessing, treatment and disposal.
• use licensed facilities for hazardous waste disposal.
• design, locate, operate and monitor our waste and residue facilities to minimise environmental impact.