Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 (the Act) the State environment protection policies (SEPPs) and Waste management policies (WMPs) no longer have a formal legal role.

This is because the Act introduces new duties such as the general environmental duty (GED) and new subordinate instruments.

Some of the content in SEPPs and WMPs is:

• replaced by the GED
• in environmental reference standards or regulations
• or will be reframed as EPA guidance.

For a detailed understanding of these changes, read the Using SEPPs and WMPs in the new environment protection framework guide (EPA publication 1994).

Some SEPPs and WMPs content hasn’t been replaced in the new legislative framework, or new guidance isn’t yet available. Links to the SEPPs and WMPs are provided for general information and to help you understand and manage risks. They have no formal legal status from 1 July 2021.

SEPPs

• Waters
• Ambient air quality
• Air quality management
• Control of noise from commerce, industry and trade No. N-1
• Control of music noise from public premises
• Prevention and management of contamination of land

WMPs

• Siting, Design and Management of Landfills policy and variation to the policy.
• Movement of Controlled Waste between States and Territories
• E-waste
• Combustible Recyclable and Waste Materials
• Solid Fuel Heating policy and variation to the policy
• Used Packaging Materials
• National Pollutant Inventory
• Industrial Waste Management Policy (Protection of the Ozone Layer)
• Industrial Waste Management Policy (Waste Acid Sulfate Soils)

Read more

Using SEPPs and WMPs in the new environment protection framework guide (EPA publication 1994)