How do I implement the SA EPA data pack for Waste Mass Balance and Levy Return reporting?
The state government of South Australis has a requirement that all waste facility operators where they recieve more than 20,000 tonnes per anum 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 any material used onsite for operational purposes.
Additionally waste facilities that are liable for the waste levy are required to lodge a return each month with daily liable waste information. This data can be either entered manually or a spread sheet/csv file uploaded.
The government has issued an Excel template that is to be used by the operator to submit their mass balance along with their levy returns.
The data pack that Mandalay provides is designed to assist with entry of data into this spread sheet and the submission of the monthly levy return. 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 SA EPA data pack will comprise the following data categories:
- Material Type
- Stream
- Source Use
- Waste Fate
- Destination
- Operational Use
- Mass Determination
Reporting will be provided to allow:
- Auditing of the data captured against each transaction and
- Submission of the monthly Levy Return
- 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. For inbound loads this will generally be Metro or Non Metro.
- Waste Fate is the data category for identifying how the location is categorised when used as the destination of transaction. This is generally used for outbound movements.
Products
For a product the data categories are applied using the manage favorites button. From here the Material Type for all movements and the waste stream for inbound movements, can be defined.
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 they 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 using the data export reports.
For assistance on how to classify you data correctly you should reach out the South Australian EPA or contact our preferred consultation partner Resource Hub.
Waste Stream
The Waste Stream is used to specify the type of waste being moved into a waste facility.. The data pack provides the following data options:
| Code | Description |
| CD | Construction and Demolition (C&D) |
| CI | Commercial and Industrial (C&I) |
| MSW | Municipal Waste (MSW) |
| HW | Hazardous Waste |
| OTH | Other |
| NA | Not Reportable (this will exclude a transaction from the mass balance report and levy return report) |
Waste Material Type
The Waste Material Type is used to define the material composition for outbound waste movements. The full list of material types available can be found the SA EPA Mass Balance reporting data specification, page 6.
Note: This category is only required for outbound movements.
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 |
| TRN | Transferred Waste |
| REC | Recovered Resource |
| DLF | Disposed to Landfill (this is for inbound movements only) |
| STK | Stockpiled (this is for inbound movements only) |
| TRANSFER | Transfer Station |
For details on how to use the TRANSFER code refer to this section.
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.
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 |
| OSOP | Operational Use |
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.
For details on how to use the TRANSFER code refer to this section.
| Code | Description |
| METRO | Metro |
| NONMETRO | Non-Metor |
| TRANSFER | Transfer Station |
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.