Media release: Publishing information about waste management
Queensland’s Office of the Information Commissioner’s audit report into waste management publications was tabled in Parliament today.
The Information Commissioner Rachael Rangihaeata said, “Waste management is a key component of good environmental management and climate change mitigation. As this touches the community at large, business and government, waste management is also a topic that attracts significant public interest.”
The report identifies the information departments must publish about waste management, particularly under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 and the Queensland Plan Act 2014.
Two departments have leadership responsibilities to publish statewide strategies, plans and progress reports about waste management. All departments are responsible for publishing their own waste management plans.
Overall, The Queensland Plan, the Queensland Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy and their associated reports are easy to find and use. However, the annual reports about the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy are not published promptly, impeding community access to relevant, up to date information. They also miss some specific information required under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
Sixteen departments out of 20 have published a waste management plan on their websites. Four departments do not comply with their legislated obligations.
All published plans are easy to read, but they are not necessarily up to date, easy to find or address the required inclusions. For example, almost half of the plans are out of date or expired in 2021.
This means the community cannot easily and readily access timely information about what departments are proposing to do in the coming years, or have achieved, to generate less waste and increase resource recovery. This reduces their accountability and transparency.
We make recommendations to the two lead departments to improve the significance and timeliness of their reports. We also make five recommendations to all departments about their waste reduction and recycling plans.
“If waste management plans and other publications are easy to find, easy to use, meaningful and timely, this will build trust and confidence in government agencies. It also contributes to increased community participation and behavioural changes.” said Rangihaeata.
