Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to identify waste avoidance techniques. The unit covers identifying waste types, streams and drivers or causes in the workplace, and assessing those against opportunities for efficiencies. Actions or alternatives to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and waste are devised and assessed against the waste minimisation hierarchy. The unit requires identified waste avoidance options to be evaluated including conducting cost-benefit and feasibility analyses. The unit requires the ability to use a computer and suitable software to document the evaluation findings.
The unit supports those who work in lead roles in a waste management team.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit 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 drivers. | 1.1. | Main waste types and streams are identified within workplace in consultation with |
1.2. | Waste drivers are identified according to organisational requirements. | ||
2. | Identify opportunities to avoid waste. | 2.1. | Waste drivers, opportunities for efficiencies and impacts of waste are discussed with relevant personnel to determine possible alternative processes, products or practices. |
2.2. | Actions or alternatives to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and waste are developed according to organisational requirements. | ||
2.3. | Waste minimisation hierarchy is applied to evaluate alternatives according to organisational requirements. | ||
2.4. | Waste avoidance options are developed and checked according organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
3. | Evaluate waste avoidance options. | 3.1. | Waste avoidance options are prioritised in order or greatest waste avoidance potential and most appropriate environmental energy efficiency methods. |
3.2. | Cost-benefit and feasibility analyses of waste avoidance options are undertaken and issues are identified according to organisational requirements. | ||
3.3. | Evaluation findings are documented and reported 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 identify waste avoidance techniques for two clients or workplaces.
For each, the person must consult with relevant personnel to:
assess the main waste types and streams in the workplace to identify waste drivers or causes
identify and discuss opportunities to avoid waste including actions or alternatives to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and waste generation, and opportunities for efficiencies, as specified in the range of conditions
evaluate and document the effectiveness of waste avoidance options by:
prioritising options in order of their greatest waste avoidance potential and the most environmental energy efficiencies to be gained
conducting a cost-benefit and feasibility analyses to identify issues.
While identifying above waste avoidance techniques, the person must:
apply the waste management hierarchy when evaluating alternatives to avoid unnecessary energy consumption and waste
follow organisational procedures to work safely and comply with regulatory and legal requirements.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
environmental issues relating to:
energy efficiency systems
lifecycle of products: reduce, reuse and recycle
renewable energy
hazards and risks associated with waste including hazardous substances and dangerous goods
organisational policies and procedures and regulatory and legal requirements relating to identifying and evaluating waste avoidance techniques
waste avoidance options, including:
using renewable, recovered and recycled material
using materials with low energy consumption and low emissions to air and water during pre-production and production changes in product or process
reducing need for using maintenance products and consumables
restricting dangerous substances use in production process, as well as in product itself
specifying packaging for products and minimising excessive packaging
encouraging lean production
waste drivers and causes
waste minimisation hierarchy and its application
waste treatment options including:
recycling
waste to landfill
waste water treatment
waste types, streams and characteristics.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
computer and suitable software, as specified by organisational requirements
personal protective equipment (PPE), as specified by organisational requirements
relationships with team members and supervisor:
working in a team.
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 |
Numeracy skills to: | calculate service costs using rate schedules. |
Reading skills to: | interpret technical information contained in tender documentation. |
Writing skills to: | write tender documents which address tendering criteria. |
Technology skills to: | use a computer and software to prepare and present information to clients. |
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. | |
Relevant personnel must include at least two of the following: | clients or customers contractors other interested parties site personnel staff supervisors or managers suppliers. |
Opportunities for efficiencies must include policies and procedures related to: | identifying energy consumption efficiencies: transport, plant or equipment identifying efficiencies in materials usage and minimising waste identifying waste management efficiencies. |
Compliance requirements must include: | commonwealth, state and territory legislation relating to identifying waste avoidance techniques, including: client confidentiality environmental protection hazardous substances and dangerous goods industry codes and standards work health and safety and duty of care licensing requirements. |
Sectors
Waste management