The new LGIS waste management guide supports waste facility owners, operators and users in identifying, assessing and controlling the property and liability risks involved.

This guide has been developed by LGIS' asset risk team who regularly assess local government entities' waste facilities and have an in-depth knowledge of risk exposures in the day-to-day operations of waste facilities.

Major incidents such as fires, property damage and personal injury can occur at any point in the waste process, including collection, transportation, transfer, recycling and disposal. These major incidents pose a risk to people's safety and in many cases, have wider detrimental impacts on the local community and the waste industry itself. It can also have a negative impact on the ability to handle and process waste as intended and result in financial costs to the owners and operators.

LGIS waste facilities claims data from the last five years (2018-2022) shows an increasing trend in terms of cost incurred - in 2018 average costs were $ 50,000 in 2018 and by 2022 claims costs were up to $300,000.

The cost of risk mitigation can, in most, cases be less expensive than the actual cost incurred after an incident. Members should do regular risk assessments to make sure risks are identified and controls put in place at their waste facilities.

Make sure to login to the LGIS website and then you can access the guide HERE

This guide covers three key areas:

1.       Identifying, assessing and controlling risk

Operators and owners of waste facilities must be able to measure and understand the risks their operation is exposed to and the risks that waste facilities potentially expose third parties to. . This can be uncovered through a risk management process. The risk management process includes risk analysis, evaluation and treatment.

2.       Fire protection systems

When implementing a fire risk management strategy, there are some important steps that need to be followed. For a fire to occur three elements are required, oxygen, fuel and heat, controlling these elements is the most effective way to manage fire risks, however in cases where these cannot be eliminated, fire protection is required.

3.       Emergency planning

A site specific Emergency Response Plan (ERP) should be developed outlining what facility owners, operators, employees, contractors and visitors should do in any type of emergency. An effective ERP addresses all hazards that may occur on site, including fire, chemical spill, weather event, vehicle impact, medical incident.

The guide provides guidance on asset and liability risk management for public sector facilities that receive, handle, store or dispose of waste material. It addresses managing fire risks on site, and risks associated with potential interactions with members of the public and third parties.

For more information on how to manage your waste facilities, please get in touch with your account manager.