Council joins push for regional waste management
Improving the efficiency of regional waste collection, diverting waste from landfill and boosting recycling is firmly in the sights of the Fraser Coast Regional Council.
Councillor David Lee will represent the Fraser Coast on the Project Steering Group to develop a Wide Bay Burnet Regional Waste Management Plan.
“There is a billion dollars in funding over the next 10 years available for Councils through the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund to improve their recycling programs, but only if they are a part of a regionally-focussed waste management plan,” Cr Lee said.
“The plan will guide the collaboration of Councils and industry as we strive to meet the Queensland Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy.
“The plan will provide the blueprint for investment while also delivering financially sustainable solutions to improve waste management, resource recovery, recycling, and the rate at which material is diverted from landfill.
“We will need new infrastructure to encourage the development of a circular economy, such as turning glass back into sand which can be reprocessed into other products here rather than shipping the bottles south for processing.
“Increased processing and recycling will create new jobs as well as improve environmental outcomes.”
Council has already committed to including a glass recycling processing plant and mixed fibre optic-sorting unit (to sort paper) in its application for a $8million grant from the Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) to build a new $25.1 million Materials Recovery Facility.
“A modern MRF will greatly enhance our ability to sort recyclable materials, cut the amount of waste going to landfill and create new industries and jobs on the Fraser Coast.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science has provided funding to develop the plan, with the Local Government Association of Queensland facilitating the engagement of a Project Manager/Co-ordinator and a consultant.
The plan needs to be adopted by Council by January 2023 and it is anticipated that the consultant will be on board in May with the project steering committee to meet in June.
CAPTION: Plant operator Seaton Darr shows Councillor David Lee over the new 40-tonne compactor at the Saltwater Creek Road Landfill.