Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to plan and conduct a waste assessment. The unit requires analysis and consultation to determine and agree the project scope and processes, and planning waste assessment requirements including resources and equipment, risk management and personnel training. Waste assessment is conducted visually at the site and by reviewing documents and interviewing stakeholders. The unit requires compiling and validating collected assessment data and conducting a feasibility review of identified opportunities to improve resource recovery and waste management. It requires the waste assessment outcomes and recommendations to be summarised in a report and presented to the client.
The unit supports those who work under limited supervision in a waste management team.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Identify waste assessment scope. | 1.1. | Client is advised of benefits and limitations of waste assessment, and work requirements are clearly defined according to organisational requirements. |
1.3. | Applicable compliance requirements, corporate responsibilities, necessary resources and resource management processes are identified within project scope. | ||
1.4. | Project scope and client and assessor responsibilities are agreed in consultation with client. | ||
2. | Plan waste assessment. | 2.1. | Resources and equipment necessary for waste assessment are organised and accessed according to project requirements. |
2.2. | Project risk assessment is conducted and risk management plan is developed and implemented according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
2.3. | Issues impacting on waste generation are identified and incorporated into waste assessment action plan in consultation with relevant personnel. | ||
2.4. | Personnel training is conducted according to organisational requirements. | ||
3. | Assess waste. | 3.1. | Waste assessment is conducted according to project, organisational and compliance requirements. |
3.2. | Waste or recycling containers are visually assessed to determine composition and quantity of waste components according to project requirements. | ||
3.3. | Visual findings are recorded by waste type, quantity observed, department or process. | ||
3.4. | Site review and interviews are conducted to obtain further data according to project requirements. | ||
3.5. | Waste documentation is reviewed to assess annual quantities according to waste stream and type. | ||
4. | Report and analyse waste assessment findings. | 4.1. | Collected waste assessment data is compiled and validated according to project requirements. |
4.2. | Stakeholder consultation is conducted to identify opportunities for resource recovery and resources required for implementation. | ||
4.3. | Feasibility review of identified opportunities is conducted and outcomes are presented according to project requirements. | ||
4.4. | Waste assessment report is prepared and presented to client according to organisational requirements. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also plan and conduct two waste assessments.
While conducting above waste assessments, the person must:
conduct a review of the assessment site and waste documentation and interview stakeholders to gather data relating to the waste assessment
conduct a risk assessment and develop a risk management strategy for the waste assessment
consult with clients and stakeholders to identify waste management issues and discuss assessment processes and findings
identify necessary resources and resource management processes for the assessment
identify opportunities for resource recovery and improved waste management and conduct a feasibility review of those opportunities
follow organisational procedures to work safely and comply with regulatory and legal requirements
prepare a waste assessment action plan
prepare a waste assessment report, as specified in the range of conditions
train personnel involved in the waste assessment process
visually assess waste or recycling containers and record the findings
work with clients to establish work objectives and scope of assessment.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
classifications of waste
hazards and risks associated with waste including hazardous substances and dangerous goods
issues which can impact on waste generation, including:
maintenance downtime
product changeovers
production flows
quality control procedures
seasonal activity variations
shift times
start-up processes
waste collection routines
waste collection systems
organisational policies and procedures and regulatory and legal requirements relating to waste assessments
types, streams and characteristics of waste, including:
construction and demolition
dangerous goods
general waste
green waste
hazardous substances
municipal waste
other resource recovery
prescribed waste stream: i.e. legislative wastes
recycling streams
reprocessed on-site material stream
reused product stream
waste assessment processes, including:
available reprocessing options
estimating resource needs
material densities
possible benefits and outcomes from conducting a waste assessment
sampling and recording techniques
site scoping
visual assessment procedures
waste containment methods
waste disposal and recovery methods.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
personal protective equipment (PPE), as specified by organisational requirements
relationships with team members and supervisor:
working under limited supervision.
Timeframe:
as specified by organisational requirements.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Planning and organising skills to: | prioritise work activities to meet work timeframes. |
Numeracy skills to: | estimate costs related to waste generation. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions during interviews to gather waste assessment data. |
Reading skills to: | interpret graphical and written information contained in site documents. |
Writing skills to: | complete waste documents and proformas. |
Problem-solving skills to: | identify process improvements at the waste assessment site. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Work requirements must include: | assessment objectives assessment processes assessment sites assessment time period waste streams to be assessed. |
Necessary resources must include at least four of the following: | camera clean-up resources decontamination equipment personnel PPE recording equipment reference manuals safety barriers and warning signs. |
Resource management processes must include at least one of the following: | composting energy recovery product life cycle: re-new, re-use and recycle waste avoidance. |
Compliance requirements must include: | commonwealth, state and territory legislation relating to waste assessments, including: environmental protection hazardous substances and dangerous goods industry codes work health and safety licensing requirements. |
Relevant personnel must include at least two of the following: | clients staff supervisors or team leaders waste assessment stakeholders waste generators. |
Further data | barriers for implementing improved resource recovery systems hazards and risks impacts associated with waste generated rationale for waste generation waste generation or waste management issues. |
Waste assessment report must include: | data summary and analysis feasibility review outcomes implementation strategies recommendations to improve resource recovery or management. |
Sectors
Waste management