Southern landfill project, South Cardup

The proposal is for the first privately owned and operated landfill accepting general and municipal waste in Western Australia.

Other privately owned and operated landfills in Western Australia have been restricted to land filling specific types of waste, such as builders rubble, clean fill or waste generated from particular industrial or manufacturing process. These landfills are typically approved by a local authority under sections of the Town Planning and Development Act and Local Government Act. General and municipal waste sites have historically been on reserves vested in local authorities and have been approved by the Executive Director, Public Health in accordance with the requirements of the Health Act.

Given the precedent being set by this proposal, the Authority considers it is necessary to describe waste administration and regulation in Western Australia as well as issues specific to privately owned and operated landfills in Western Australia. The Authority understands that this proposal was initially developed in response to a call from the Health Department in 1990 for submissions from private companies interested in establishing a new low hazard industrial waste disposal site, and has since been changed in response to a perceived need for a regional site for municipal wastes.