Carlton River
Closest house
Access road
approx
3.5km long
Controlled
Waste
Facility
Copping
Rifle Range
Existing Approved Landfill
Pine Plantation
Marion Bay
Contact officer
Christine Bell (CEO)
Telephone: 03 6225 3770
Mobile: 0408 253 770
Email: [email protected]
April 2012
The irony
of Tasmania’s
current
situation.
Although Tasmania has made significant
efforts over the past twenty years or so to
position itself as the ‘clean and green’
state and has invested heavily in
promoting this image, we are lagging
behind the nation in our responsible
disposal of ‘controlled waste’.
Ironically, Tasmania is the only state in
Australia without a controlled waste facility.
Tasmanian companies have been unable
to dispose of their controlled waste due
to the lack of a suitable facility resulting
in numerous temporary stockpiles of
waste being scattered around Tasmania.
This has therefore limited the ability of
business to work towards best practice
waste management.
This is unsustainable and represents a risk
of environmental damage. A permanent
storage facility is required urgently.
Consistent with Tasmania’s image of being
‘clean and green’, the establishment of a
controlled waste facility will:
• minimise the risk of pollutants entering
the environment
• provide confidence to existing
businesses & investors
• protect Tasmania’s “clean and green”
credentials and
• enhance waste management practices
in the state.
What is Controlled Waste?
Controlled waste is material that needs
additional levels of secure storage beyond
what is required in a normal landfill. It consists
of materials such as soils and old building
residue that has been contaminated with
metallic compounds.
The Solution
A controlled waste facility is proposed to be
built at the existing Copping Landfill site 45
kilometres east of Hobart.
Why Copping?
The existing Copping Landfill is recognised as
a well-managed facility with best-practice
environmental processes. It is owned by a
joint local government authority, made up of
interests from Clarence, Sorell, Tasman and
Kingborough Councils.
The site has an ideal solid rock base upon
which the facility will be built. The waste
materials are further enclosed within
impermeable barriers. This prevents any
impacts occurring into the groundwater or
surface drainages.
What is Planned?
The Controlled Waste Facility will consist of a
purpose built structure (cell) that prevents
discharge of materials into the surrounding
environment. The cell will be allocated specific
types of solid wastes only. No liquids will be
received. The location of these wastes will be
recorded so that, as technologies emerge,
some materials may be recovered for recycling
adding to the environmental benefits of the
controlled waste facility. Once the cell is filled
another cannot be constructed without new
approvals and public consultation.