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In NSW, acts and regulations govern waste management. Those who handle, store, transport, process, recycle and dispose of waste must follow these rules to minimise harm to human health and the environment. The EPA provides leadership to ensure NSW has a fair, modern and well-regulated waste industry.

The EPA has led important reforms to the way waste is managed in NSW, to better protect the environment and the community for the future. The EPA has raised standards across the industry, tightened the rules, and strengthened deterrence to ensure operators do the right thing.

To better protect people’s health and the environment, the EPA enforces strict rules to deter illegal dumping of waste including asbestos, waste tyres, hazardous waste, and restricted solid waste. This sends a strong signal to polluters that dumping waste is not tolerated in NSW, and those in breach of the law will pay.

Some waste-related activities require an environment protection licence issued by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). This includes activities such as storing, processing, transporting and disposing of waste, and recovering resources from the waste stream. A licence imposes controls on these activities to prevent them causing harm.

The NSW scrap metal industry plays an important resource recovery and waste management role in NSW.

The waste and recycling performance data provides insight on the progress of NSW on improving waste outcomes. This includes reducing waste generation and increasing recycling by diverting materials from landfill. The data is a vital source for industry, community and government to inform decision-making and policy.

Reducing waste involves changing our everyday behaviour. It means thinking about our needs and the whole life cycle of a product before we buy something. Reducing waste can save money, conserve resources, save energy and water and reduce pollution.

Wasting food wastes money and the considerable energy, water and other resources used to produce food. Preventing food waste is the best outcome for the environment. The EPA’s Love Food Hate Waste program shows NSW households and businesses how to avoid wasting food.

Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic, often microscopic in size, that are added to a range of products, including rinse-off cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. They are often included for their exfoliant or abrasive properties.