State turns its attention to waste management—are your workers ready?
Waste management is set to be prioritised in Queensland following the state government’s budget injection announcement. The increased budget allocation will continue to focus priorities on how we deal with waste. One of the issues for many large construction, infrastructure, and resource companies is making sure the workers who deal with waste on the ground, know what to do, when to escalate matters to management, and how to keep themselves safe.
Green Ticket Director Bill Haylock said waste management was integral to environmental management within organisations, but unless the content filtered down to the workers on the ground and was implemented by them, the management plans didn’t fulfil their purpose.
“Environmental management plans are a waste of energy and time if the workers on the ground aren’t given the tools and knowledge to implement them,” Mr Haylock said.
“With increased investment in waste management by the state, it’s important organisations follow suit and invest in their workers to make sure they know what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.
“A worker at risk of violating waste management plans needs training that deals with their situation. They don’t need to know the legal statute that regulates that element of waste management; they don’t need to know the chemical breakdown of waste and the impacts on gas levels and climate change; and, they don’t need to know the cost savings for the organisation by correctly managing waste. What they need to know is what is a waste, how to store the waste, how to dispose of the waste, when to notify their supervisor if they see waste irregularities, and what these might look like.
“The worker, on the ground, needs to simply know that liquid wastes must be bunded, what that looks like, and what to do if they’re not. They need to know that hydrocarbon waste, such as oil filters and grease cartridges, are regulated waste and needs to be separated from the general waste stream. That to dispose of regulated waste document approvals must be obtained. They need to know that waste must be kept away from waterways. Essentially, they need to know what they can physically do in the course of their workday to deal with waste effectively and appropriately,” Mr Haylock said.
Green Ticket’s waste management digital training course is based on adult education principles that cuts through to the worker. The course includes visual, audio, and written material so that no matter how the worker best learns, they are catered for.
If you want to make sure your workers can interpret your waste management plans and can carry out your corporate environmental management principles, contact us on phone: 07 3368 1033.
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More than $90 million for wildlife and environmental protection Queensland’s wildlife and the environment are winners in this year’s State Budget, with more than $90 million allocated to a range of environmental initiatives including national parks revitalisation, crocodile management, koala conservation, fire management and the eradication of yellow crazy ants. Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science Leeanne Enoch said Queenslanders care about the environment and this year’s Budget is ensuring it continues to be protected. “We have allocated $10 million for national parks revitalisation in 2019-20, which will go towards the ongoing recovery of national parks affected by Tropical Cyclone Debbie and other significant weather events, as well as ongoing improvements and upgrades to other iconic national parks,” she said. “These include parks in the Whitsundays and Mackay as well as parks in The Daintree, Gondwana World Heritage Area, Noosa National Park, and the Great Sandy National Park.” Minister Enoch said $16 million was also going towards the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service’s (QPWS) Enhanced Fire Management program. “QPWS manages more than 600 protected areas, including 13 million hectares of Queensland’s parks and forests,” Ms Enoch said. “Approximately 60% of QPWS managed estate falls within bushfire prone areas and this funding will further the Palaszczuk Government’s work in bushfire mitigation.” The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is also getting a funding boost this year, with $9 million allocated over three years to continue the yellow crazy ant local eradication program. “The yellow crazy ant is one of the top 100 worst invasive species and is listed as a ‘restricted pest’ under Queensland’s Biosecurity Act 2014,” Ms Enoch said. “Some excellent work has been done in this program over many years and through this funding, the Palaszczuk Government is ensuring the continuation of that work to protect the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area from these pests.” Improving waste management continues to be a priority, with $1 million being provided over two years for the development of a waste management data strategy for Queensland. “Improving waste data management is a crucial part of implementing waste management reforms in Queensland. “This year’s budget will also see expenditure for key programs funded from the waste levy, including programs to support small businesses and the construction industry to improve their waste practices, and further investment in grants for environmental projects,” Ms Enoch said. Ms Enoch said the Government was also continuing its work to protect the Great Barrier Reef. “Protecting the Great Barrier Reef is one of the Palaszczuk Government’s Advancing Queensland Priorities and we are continuing our work to ensure it is protected, with $75.4 million allocated this financial year as part of the $330 million record funding over five years from 2018-19.” The Palaszczuk Government has also allocated $6 million in this year’s Budget over two years for improved crocodile management across all Queensland crocodile habitat areas. “This funding will help further the work being conducted by the Government in managing crocodiles, including investigating all reports and capturing problem crocodiles when required, along with the ‘Crocwise’ public education and public awareness initiative,” Minister Enoch said. Koalas will benefit from $1.5 million in this year’s Budget which includes infrastructure improvements at the Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre and supporting their ongoing work, as well as funding to RSPCA for the oversight of the 1300 WILDLIFE Hotline service. Budget highlights for the environment include:
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