Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council’s draft Waste Strategy supports increasing waste sustainability and provides equitable services, fees and charges across the region.
Federal and State government waste targets, along with bans on exporting waste and increased environmental and WHS risk, have made a change in waste strategy necessary.
Council’s waste services currently reflect pre-amalgamation arrangements, which have created inconsistent servicing and charging outcomes.
“Council must ensure that it provides consistent, quality services to meet the needs of the community, environment and regulators. By improving our waste strategy now, we can provide a streamlined service that meets future sustainability requirements,” Queanbeyan-Palerang Mayor, Cr Tim Overall said.
Council engaged consultants to design a long-term strategy to guide waste management and improve landfill diversion rates. The draft Waste Strategy includes five scenarios to reduce waste. Scenario three, which focuses on adding food organics to existing garden organics (FOGO), has been recommended as the best choice for Queanbeyan-Palerang.
This scenario:
- Has the equal highest waste diversion rate.
- Balances costs to residents.
- Provides residents with access to all QPRC waste facilities.
- Provides an equitable solution for residents and businesses.
“Through improved bin contamination policies, better FOGO processing facilities and tailored waste education Council aims to increase the amount of waste that is repurposed or recycled, diverting 62% of waste from landfill. This is a good step towards meeting the NSW Government target to divert 70% of waste from landfill, which will be built on in the future revisions of the strategy,” Cr Overall said.
To manage transitional costs, various rating approaches were considered. The recommended rating approach gradually changes waste charges over four years whilst ensuring improved services are rolled out to residents.
The QPRC Waste Management Strategy will be on public exhibition until Monday 7 June 2021.
Submissions can also be in the following ways:
