1. Determine the effectiveness of current resource management practices
   • Obtain management support for the development and implementation of a cleaner production program
   • Establish in-house cleaner production working group
   • Measure current waste streams in total in regard to source(s), types, quantities and materials, with waste generation rates linked to key waste indicators or benchmarks
   • Assess existing waste management practices against legislation, industry standards, best practice and company requirements and expectations
   • Discuss practices and processes with operators and other stakeholders to gain in depth information on why waste is generated
   • Conduct a cost analysis to identify the real cost of waste per production process and/or waste stream
2. Determine strategies to reduce/avoid waste
   • Identify barriers to implementation and develop appropriate strategies to counter these
   • Establish goals and targets for the cleaner production program
   • Undertake an identification of all potential changes to practices, products or processes that would reduce waste generation
   • Prioritise potential cleaner production opportunities
   • Hold discussions with interested parties to investigate viability of identified changes
   • Conduct feasibility analysis of options Feasibility to include full cost-benefit analysis, as well as technical, environmental, OHS aspects
   • Resource requirements are identified and costed
   • Identified opportunities are ranked in regard to implementation schedules
   • Findings are documented accurately and promptly for full review by appropriate authority level
3. Develop implementation program
   • Allocate specific tasks and develop a timetable for implementation
   • Conduct specific implementation activities and/or install equipment
   • Communicate change to all relevant employees and other stakeholders. Conducted in conjunction with a specific education program
   • Establish monitoring and review programs to determine effectiveness and amendments instituted as required
   • Establish reporting mechanisms to provide feedback to management on progress in respect to the cleaner production initiatives
   • Implement a company cleaner production promotion program in conjunction with a staff awareness program

Refer to Evidence Guide

Critical aspects of competency

Identification of waste stream and materials

Understanding of impacts and drivers of waste

Understanding of material flows and organisational processes

Ability to recognise cleaner production opportunities and to evaluate their feasibility against internal and external criteria

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below

Waste streams

Waste classifications

Company procedures and practices

Company standards and requirements

Product safety and integrity requirements

Occupational health and safety requirements

Duty of care in provision of services

Relevant industry standards and codes

Relevant legislation

Relevant environmental regulations

Energy efficiency systems

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria

To achieve the performance criteria some complementary skills are required These are

oral communication skills including questioning listening following instructions

mediating skills

capacity to motivate

visual quantity estimates

reading and interpreting skills

research skills

written communication skills for documentation and report writing

analytical capability

accuracy and attention to detail

computer skills

investigative abilities

hazard identification

safe and efficient work practices

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function for example

PRMWMB Plan waste audit

PRMWM01B Plan waste audit

PRMWMB Identify and segregate waste

PRMWM05B Identify and segregate waste

PRMWMB Carry out waste assessment

PRMWM59B Carry out waste assessment

PRMCMNA Participate in workplace safety arrangements

PRMCMN201A Participate in workplace safety arrangements.

Resources required to assess this unit

The following resources should be available

MSDS

client waste history

specific information related to cleaner production opportunities such as alternative actions and associated costbenefit information

Gaining evidence to assess this unit

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations which may include logical progression of information gathering analysis of development and evaluation of cleaner production opportunities together with a specific implementation program

Evidence of competency is best obtained by reviewing developed cleaner production opportunities together with supporting information to ascertain the validity of the opportunity and its feasibility Workplace examples could be developed and used to assess process and understanding of key issues

Consistency in performance

Cleaner production programs require that strategies meet the waste reduction goals and targets of the business and are feasible It may be necessary to assess the unit within a variety of waste management environments or different organisational needs to assess competency in the development of cleaner production opportunities and specific implementation programs

Oral questioning or written hypothetical situations scenarios may be used to assess underpinning knowledge In situations where the candidate is offered a preference between oral or written questioning questions are to be identical

Supplementary evidence may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence from existing supervisors team leaders or specialist training staff

Note All practical demonstrations must adhere to the safety and environmental regulations relevant to each state or territory

Key competency levels

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life that are required in all jobs They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions Some of these are covered by the key competencies although others may be added

Information below highlights how these processes are applied in this competency standard