What does VLAA do?

VLAA was formed in April 2000 to coordinate efforts to combat the problem of litter. VLAA members coordinate their own litter prevention activities, but more importantly, VLAA aims to provide coordinated successful litter prevention programs for the whole state based on what works.

VLAA functions as a quarterly CEO level meeting with a working group at officer level meeting more frequently. VLAA serves as an information clearing house, a coordinating body, provides input into specific projects undertaken by members and sponsors projects under the VLAA banner.

The policy context for litter is provided by Victoria's Litter Reduction Strategy (1995). The strategy set the directions and priorities for litter reduction for the large number of organisations that have a responsibility for some part of litter management. These include local and state government agencies, industry and non-government organisations. The strategy is built around the areas of 'people, products, places and players' and deals with the need for improved education, product design, infrastructure and data collection.

Since the introduction of the strategy local government, state agencies and industry have implemented a range of anti-litter programs including:

The establishment of Local Litter Prevention Task Forces, funding a Regional Education Officer for each of the State's 16 Regional Waste Management Groups and the Waste Wise Program (EcoRecycle Victoria)
'Bay Safe' and 'Don't Pollute The Bay', 'Care About The BayDon't Throw It Away', 'Drains to Our Waterways' campaigns and the raining litter TV advertisement (Melbourne Water)
Beach Report, 'A litter bit goes a long way', 'If They Fling It, Ring It', 'Don't put up with this rubbish', 'Make litterers pay - Are You Guilty?' campaigns (EPA Victoria)
The 'Adopt-a-Highway' Program which involves both urban and regional areas (VicRoads)
Littering Behaviour Studies I, II, III, IV & V (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002) (BIEC)
Additional litter reduction infrastructure has been installed (Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and EcoRecycle)

The National Packaging Covenant (1999) to which the Victorian Government and major industry stakeholders are signatories, establishes a framework for the effective lifecycle management of packaging and paper products. It is based upon the principles of product stewardship and shared responsibility, that is, that all parts of the packaging supply chain, governments, and consumers have a role to play to ensure that packaging is developed and managed throughout its lifecycle in a way that minimises adverse consequences.

The Covenant requires brand owners to recover recyclable materials through their own efforts by undertaking to use a specified amount of recycled materials in their packaging, depending on the particular industry. This in itself could be expected to impact on the amount of litter generated, as much litter is recyclable. In addition, one means for firms to discharge their obligations is through funding or undertaking anti-litter programs, and this will create a context of increasing non-government activity in litter prevention.

Victoria's 16 Regional Waste Management Groups continue to work closely with their member councils on strategic litter activities, such as the development of local litter strategies and local community litter education activities. A key priority for the Regional Education Officers (REOs) is litter education in partnership with member councils.

Victoria's litter legislation was reformed in June 2002 with the repeal of the former Litter Act 1987 and the incorporation of the majority of its provisions into the Environment Protection Act 1970. This reform included the strengthening of penalties for littering, the introduction of greater enforcement powers for local government and the introduction of new offences related to bill posting and the distribution of unwanted advertising material.

Strategic priorities for the next three years (2003/04 - 2005/06)

Since 2001 VLAA has documented the priorities for litter management in Victoria in an annual business plan which brings together the efforts of agencies involved in litter prevention in Victoria and documents their key collaborative activities for the coming year and beyond.

Key themes that have guided the development of the 2003-2004 Business Plan are:

Training for enforcement/empowerment/leadership in litter management
Evaluation of programs to ensure value for money
Development of strategies to ensure a litter-free Commonwealth Games
Coordination of messages/campaigns