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Chapter
3
4.
Environmental Objectives, Targets and Milestones
Environmental
objectives are the key areas of action identified through
the formulation of the environmental policy whilst environmental
targets and milestones represent the detailed performance
requirements that the bureau or department sets out to achieve.
All targets and milestones should be measurable actions and
should, in the longer term, provide benchmarks against which
the bureau or department's performance can be assessed.
When establishing
its environmental targets and milestones, the bureau or department
could consider:
- legal
requirements under existing environmental legislation;
- significant
environmental impacts;
- technological
options;
- financial
and operational requirements; and
- views
of interested parties.
As a general
rule, the targets and milestones should be:
- set
with specific timescale, usually on a calendar year basis;
- as
specific and measurable as possible;
- set
for both short and long terms; and
- consistent
with the environmental policy.
Figure
4.1 shows the interrelationship between environmental policy,
objectives and targets.
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Figure
4.1 - Environmental policy, objectives and targets set
under operational activities |
| Policy |
We
will promote reuse, recycle and recover. The disposal
of remaining wastes will be done in an environmentally
safe manner.
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| Objective |
Resources
savings and wastes reduction
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| Long-term
target |
By
1997, to reduce the amount of waste disposal to landfill
sites by 60% of 1990 level.
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| Short-term
target |
Reduce
solid waste disposal by 25% of last year's level.
Compile
data on photocopier paper use and volume of paper recycled
and have these figures published every six months.
Move
to exclusive use of recycled and environmentally preferable
paper.
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More examples
of environmental targets/milestones are provided in Annex
5 for reference.
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