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Welcome to ALGA's environment protection policy and research area. Environmental management is a core function for local government. Environmental protection is a key role for local government in Australia. The responsibilities of councils across Australia, vary across jurisdictions, and reflect differences in under state and territory legislative and regulatory frameworks. State and territory local government associations deal with state and territory governments on state specific issues.

ALGA core role is to represent the interest of local government at the national level. ALGA is a Federated organisation. Its members are state local government associations the Northern territory Local Government Association and the ACT Government. ALGA works closely with the Australian Government to advance the core environmental policy issues for local government nationally.

At the national level the the Environment Protection and Heritage Council of Australia and New Zealand (EPHC) was established in June 2001 by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to ensure the protection of the environment and heritage of Australia and New Zealand. The members of the EPHC are Ministers, not necessarily environment Ministers, from participating jurisdictions (ie. Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, the New Zealand Government). The Australian Local Government Association is an observer member of the EPHC.

EPHC addresses broad national policy issues relating to environmental protection, particularly in regard to air, water, and waste matters. The EPHC also addresses natural, Indigenous and historic heritage issues.

ALGA works closely with the Australian Government Department of Environment and State environmental officials on major initiatives taken by the EPHC. Further details of the work of EPHC can be found at http://www.ephc.gov.au/

ALGA also makes submissions to the Australian Government on environmental initiatives.

ALGAs submission on the National Waste Policy

Managing Waste to 2020 Consultation paper acknowledges that state and territory local government associations and council will have made submission addressing the details in the consultation paper. This submission concentrates on two priorities for the National Waste Policy. These are: a) clarification of roles and responsibilities of government, business and communities, including the basis for collaboration between levels of government, and an effective Extended Produce Responsibility (EPR) and Product Stewardship framework.

AgStewardship

Agstewardship Australia is a not-for-profit company that was established in 2008. Members of AgStewardship Australia are: National Association for Crop Production and Animal Health (Avcare), the National Farmers' Federation (NFF), the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and the Veterinary Manufacturers and Distributors Association (VMDA).

The objects of Agstewardship Australia are to develop and implement stewardship programs through the agribusiness supply chain, broadening Australia’s reputation as responsible, clean providers of products in domestic and international markets. Agstewardship Australia builds upon the successful Industry Waste Reduction Scheme, (IWRS) which instigated and implemented the drumMUSTER and ChemClear programs in 1999.

Under the IWRS a four cent levy per litre/kilogram on manufacturers and suppliers of Agricultural and Veterinary (AgVet) chemicals to fund the drumMUSTER and ChemClear programs, which provide for the collection of unwanted, empty AgVet chemical containers.