The main purposes of the survey are to understand firstly, the motivation for zero waste activities in metropolitan Adelaide among waste management organizations such as local and state government (city councils, regulatory bodies), waste business organizations (service businesses, recycling industries, etc.)and non-government organizations. Secondly, to determine future waste management priorities based on the survey (and performance assessment results). The questionnaires were sent to local waste authorities and management organizations including city councils, state authorities, local business organizations, service providers, non-government organizations and so on. The survey population was limited to waste management organizations and experts involved in waste management in the Adelaide area and thus the study did not consider individuals or households.
The zero waste inventory survey is based on the following broader waste management issues:
• awareness and education
• waste avoidance and reduction
• waste recycling and treatment
• waste disposal
• regulatory policy
• zero waste management
• emerging priority areas in zero waste
A semi-structured questionnaire was prepared using multiple choice answers for participants to agree or disagree on particular questions. A number of questions were structured based on ranking systems from ‘least important’ to ‘most important’. Based on the participants' rating and frequency of ‘agree’ or ‘disagree’ responses, the most important priority areas for zero waste strategies have been identified and are presented in the results section.