How do I implement the VIC EPA data pack for Waste Mass Balance and Levy Return reporting?
The state government of Victoria has issued a requirement that all Landfill operators where a waste levy is currently paid to the EPA will need to provide a Mass Balance Report (see here for the publication of the guidelines)
This report is required to show movement of waste into the site and out of the site along with whether the waste has gone to disposal or stockpiled at the facility.
The government has issued an Excel template that is to be used by the operator to submit their data along with their quarterly levy returns. The spread sheet contains 3 parts:
Data Entry
https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/2040-waste-
https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/about-epa/publications/2040-waste-mass-balance-guideline
Calculations
Waste Flow Diagrams
The data pack that Mandalay provides is designed to assist with entry of data into this spread sheet. Specifically the first section where the data is entered. The data pack comprises a set of data categories and events that can be applied to various master data elements. When a transaction is recorded the data categories will then be applied to the transaction. Reports can then be run against a transactions to determine the correct classification of the data.
The Victorian EPA data pack will comprise the following data categories:
- Waste Category
- Levy Rate
- Waste Fate
- Destination
- Waste Material Type
- Operational Use Type
- Mass Determination
Reporting will be provided to allow:
- Auditing of the data captured against each transaction and
- Submission of the quarterly Levy Return
- Quarterly Waste Mass Balance data entry
Applying a Category
The data pack categories provided can be applied to either a product or a location to allow the scenarios allows through waste mass balance report. There are 2 types of categories available, 1) Data Category or 2) Levy Exemption Events.
Locations
Some of the data categories will need to be applied to a location. Its also possible to assign an Operational Use Type event to a locations to ensure a movement is classified for operational use.
- When a location is external and being used for outbound movements the Destination can be set as required.
- For operational use the Destination Levy Exemption Event can be set to a valid Operational Use Type.
- Source Use is the data category for identifying how the location is categorised when used as the source of transaction.
- Waste Fate is the data category for identifying how the location is categorised when used as the destination of transaction.
Note: The Destination is only required to be applied at the top most location. All other locations under it will inherit this category in the reports.
Products
For a product the data categories are applied using the manage favorites button. From here the Waste Category and Levy Rate for all movements can be defined. Plus the waste material type for outbound movements is defined here.
To add a data category, select it from the left list and then press the add button (or double click) to move it to the right.
Note: It is possible to add more than one option to the right list but unless this field is mandatory, and would therefore require the operator to select, it is advisable to only ever have one option applied to a production. This may require the creations of an additional product if it could be classified as either.
Its also possible to apply an operational use exemption against a product rather than the location.
Data Pack Categories
Below is an explanation of each of the data categories available as part of the VIC EPA data pack and how will be reported. Mandalay provides these data elements for you to assign as required to your data elements, but can not provide direct advise on how your waste movements should be categorised. Where possible we will identify what may not be a valid reporting scenario but at this will be provided through the reporting process once made available.
For assistance on how to classify you data correctly you should reach out the Victorian EPA or contact our preferred consultation partner Resource Hub.
Waste Category
The Waste Category is used to specify the type of waste being moved. The data pack provides the following data options:
| Code | Description |
| PWA | Packaged Waste Asbestos |
| CD | Construction and Demolition |
| CI | Commercial and Industrial |
| MSW | Municipal Waste |
| FILL | Fill material |
| CATB | Priority Waste - Cat B |
| CATC | Priority Waste - Cat C |
| CATD | Priority Waste - Cat D |
| SCA | Soil Containing Asbestos |
| OTH | Other |
| NA | Not Reportable (this will exclude a transaction from the mass balance report and levy return report) |
NOTE: The CD and CI categories will both be reported and aggregated as Industrial Waste when reported in the Waste Mass Balance report. The Levy Return report will report against each category.
Levy Rate
The Levy Rate is used to specify the levy rate applicable for a specific waste movement. The data pack provides the following data options:
| Code | Description |
| MSW | MSW |
| CI | CI |
| CD | CD |
| PWB | PW B |
| PWC | PW C |
| PWD | PW D |
| SCA | Soils Containing Asbestos |
| PWA | Packaged Waste Asbestos |
| NOLEVY | Not Levied |
| REBATE | Allowable rebate claim |
NOTE: The CD and CI categories will both be reported and aggregated as IND when reported in the Waste Mass Balance report.
Waste Fate
The Waste Fate category is used to determine what has occurred to the waste at the destination location for the movement. The data pack provides the following data options:
| Code | Description |
| DISP | Disposal |
| OP | Operational use |
| REC | Recovered Resource |
| STORERR | Temporary Storage (resource recovery) |
| STOREOP | Temporary Storage (operational use) |
| STOREDISP | Temporary Storage (disposal) |
| STATIon | Transfer Station |
Destination
The Destination category if used to define an external location that is used for outbound movements. It's defines the location of the site receiving the waste. The data pack provides the following data options:
| Code | Description |
| SA | SA |
| VIC | VIC |
| QLD | QLD |
| WA | WA |
| NT | NT |
| TAS | TAS |
| ACT | ACT |
| INT | International |
Note: This category is only required for outbound movements.
Waste Material Type
The Waste Material Type is used to define the material composition for outbound waste movements. The data pack provides the following data options:
| Code | Description |
| C | Concrete |
| M | Metal |
| TGW | Timber/green waste |
| P | Plastic |
| CP | Cardboard/paper |
| FILL | Fill material |
| OTH | Other |
Note: This category is only required for outbound movements.
Operational Use Type
The Operational Use Type is used to define how material is being used for operational purposes on site. This category is define using Levy Exemption events and the data pack provides the following levy exemption events:
| Code | Description |
| CON | Construction |
| CAP | Final Capping |
| COVER | Cover material |
| INTRD | Internal haul roads |
| LF | Landfill |
Mass Determination
Mass Determination is an element required in the Waste Mass Balance report. The report allows for 3 options:
- Onsite weight - Any transaction with a gross and tare captured over a weighbridge or manual weights but the Offsite Weight manual ticket reason was not used.
- Offsite weight - Any transaction with a gross and tare captured manually and the Offsite Weight manual ticket reason was used. (A manual ticket reason called Offsite is created as part of this data pack)
- Conversion factor - Any transaction where no gross and tare exist. This is essentially any non weighed transaction. Refer to the Mass Balance guidelines on the appropriate conversion factors to apply to your non weighed products.
Note: To support the offsite weight option a manual ticket reason event has been provide in the data pack.
Source Use
The Source Use category is used in provide details on the source of the waste movement. It is specifically needed for providing the information on if the load is Waste In, Waste Out or Temporary Storage. The code is applied to the locations used as as the source of a location.
| Code | Description |
Mass Balance Report |
| TSWON | Temporary Storage (material won onsite) | Temporary Storage (material won onsite) |
| TS | Temporary Storage | Temporary Storage |
| EXTERNAL | External Source | Waste In |
| INTERNAL | Internal Source | Waste Out |
| STATION | Transfer Station | Waste In (Where the was comes from another facility not on part of the landfill and on the same site) |
Landfills with a Transfer Station
If your site includes a transfer station that is not part of the Landfills EPA license, you should ensure that your location tree in Mandalay separates the Landfill from the Transfer Station locations.
Any location that is not part of the landfill license should have the Waste Fate and Source Use set to Transfer Station. This will ensure any inbound transactions are ignored and any internal movements from the transfer station to the landfill are reported as Waste In for the landfill.
Excluding a transaction from a report
In some cases you may want to exclude a transactions from the Mass Balance or Levy Return report. If this is required the NA Waste Category should be used. This will only affect the summary reports so they will still be included in any detailed audit reports.