Landfills are an important part of Victoria’s waste management infrastructure. The siting, management and rehabilitation of landfills requires a high level of design and management to ensure the environment is protected and community aspirations are met. 

Best practice environmental management – Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills

The best practice environmental management publication Siting, design, operation and rehabilitation of landfills (the Landfill BPEM; publication 788) is used by EPA, industry and others in relation to development licence applications and compliance activity. Applicants for a development licence or operating licence for a landfill must meet the objectives and required outcomes set out in the Landfill BPEM.

Following commencement of the amended Environment Protection Act 2017, the Landfill BPEM will remain as state of knowledge guidance and continue to be appropriately referenced in landfill licence conditions.

Best practice for municipal landfills

At present, low-level contaminated soils and some other low-hazard (Category C) prescribed industrial wastes (such as food processing waste and foundry sands) are managed at 25 landfills across the state. Those landfills are which are specifically licensed to receive one or more of these waste types.

The Best practice guidelines for landfills accepting Category C prescribed industrial waste (publication 1208) establish clear standards for those landfills licensed to receive Category C prescribed industrial wastes.

Further information on the hazard classification of prescribed industrial wastes is provided in the Industrial Waste Resource Guidelines – Solid industrial waste – Hazard categorisation and management. 

Licensing guidelines

EPA’s Landfill licensing guidelines (publication 1323) help landfill operators and environmental auditors with ongoing environmental management of the landfill and with gaining EPA approval for construction of new landfill cells at existing landfills.

Financial assurances

EPA requires financial assurances for landfills and any sites which accept any prescribed waste for the purposes of reprocessing, treatment, storage or disposal; or which generate and then reprocess, treat, store or dispose of certain wastes.

Guidance includes:

• Determination of financial assurances for landfills (Publication 777)

Read next

Landfill pollution guidance – overview

Landfill guidance and policy documents

Landfill and prescribed waste levies

Landfill monitoring and audits

Landfill licensing approvals process

Landfill licensing updates

Local council self-assessment tool