Picture a Wollongong where waste doesn’t go straight to landfill, where it doesn’t generate thousands of tonnes of harmful gasses, where it’s managed effectively and where items are used for as long as possible then recycled for future use.
That is the vision outlined in Wollongong City Council’s draft Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2024-2034, endorsed for public exhibition at last Monday’s council meeting, which was developed following recent community consultation with residents.
Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the 88 written responses and more than 40 workshop participants indicated the community was taking waste seriously.
“We simply cannot continue to create this level of waste; the planet won’t survive it. As they say, there is no planet B. Waste is everybody’s issue from litter to food waste to recycling to living more simply,” said Cr Bradbery.
“Community ideas and insights collected through the recent consultation have helped us chart this 10-year path to sustainable waste and resource management in Wollongong.
“Some of those great ideas which made the draft Strategy are to provide a community repair hub, pursue a solution for soft plastic and increase FOGO opportunities for residents in multi-unit dwellings.”
Cr Bradbery said a key theme coming through the community comments was a change in frequency of red bin collections. This was in line with sending less waste into landfill as the community embraces recycling and increases its use of FOGO.
“We’ve heard some community debate about this idea to investigate moving to a fortnightly waste collection in the future,” he said.
“While there are no plans to make any changes to the household collection cycle at this time, having this as something to investigate in a 10-year strategy makes sense given our focus will be on seeking waste solutions that rely less on the red bin.”
The draft strategy outlines actions to support four key goals:
- Reduce waste to landfill.
- Transition to a circular economy.
- Reduce our waste related emissions.
- Improve our waste management.
“Another exciting action will see Council develop an emergency waste management plan to guide the disposal of waste during natural disasters, which we know will happen more often due to climate change.
“Landfill contributes massively to our greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the volume of waste going to landfill and increasing our gas capture at Whyte’s Gully are major ways this plan will support a net zero future for Wollongong.”
The community can pose questions to the project team at a drop-in information session to be held at Wollongong City Library Theatrette on Thursday 4 July. It will run from 1-3pm.
“This draft strategy formalises our promise to manage waste in a sustainable and effective way. It also outlines our expectations for the community.
“As I’ve said, between capital and recurrent expenditure, managing waste is the largest item in our budget each year, and it will only get more challenging as the population grows. That makes this document one of this Council’s most important legacies and it’s essential we get the plans and goals within it right,” said Cr Bradbery.
Visit our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au to view the draft Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2024-2034 and have your say before 23 July 2024.
