State of Environment Report 2007-08 - Wollongong City Council

Waste | State of the Environment Report 2007-2008WasteWasteCurrent state and pressuresCouncil is committed to reducing waste going into landfill. Thedomestic waste collection services consist of weekly garbageservices, fortnightly recycling and green waste services and anannual clean up. Residents have a price incentive to use smallcapacity garbage bins, with approximately 95% of households usingthe 80 litre or 120 litre garbage bin instead of the 240 litre bin.During 2007-08, 37,867 tonnes of domestic waste went into landfill,which was a slight increase from 2006-07. Approximately 2,235tonnes of material were collected from the annual householdclean up. A chemical clean up was held at Bellambi in May 2008,where 7,724 kg of material were collected from 187 residents. Themajority of material collected was either water based paint (42%),oil based paint (19%) or oils (17%).Major responsesCouncil is responsible for domestic and commercial solid wastemanagement, while DECC regulates waste from scheduledindustrial premises. Through environmental education programsand recycling initiatives, Council is aiming to increase the amountof waste recycled. During 2007-08, 17,060 tonnes of waste wererecycled, an increase of 11.5% compared to 2006-07.Dumping of waste and littering is a severe problem in theWollongong LGA. Council has a regular clean up program forthese sites to prevent an accumulation of rubbish. The collectionof rubbish from ‘black spots’ was targeted throughout 2007-08through the efforts of people associated with the NSW Departmentof Probation and Parole Services. Participants collectedapproximately 67 tonnes of litter over the year. The Rise and Shineprogram has been running for over 22years and continues to encourage thecommunity to undertake environmentalprojects within the LGA. Over the last year,118 community groups including schoolsand bushcare groups removed 45 tonnesof rubbish. Participants of the CorrectiveServices Community Partnership programcollected approximately 288 cubic metresof wind blown litter from the Whytes GullyTip. Clean Up Australia Day activities,coordinated by Council staff involvedapproximately 1,200 people collectingover 31 tonnes of rubbish throughoutWollongong. Council also investigated 415abandoned vehicles.Council, in conjunction with other membersof the Southern Councils Group, isinvestigating the feasibility of installinga regional alternative waste technologyfacility, which will further reduce thevolume of waste to landfill for each of themember councils. Decisions have not yetbeen made as to the locations or numberof facilities required to service all of thecouncils. During 2007-08, a number ofstudies were conducted to facilitate theprocess, including a transport study andcarbon footprint assessment of the wastefacilities.Waste EducationDuring 2007-08, Council ran various wasteeducation programs. At Glengarry Cottagethere were 4,034 participants in educationsessions, comprising 88 school groups and258 community groups. Activities includedwaste-wise workshops, tours of thelandfill site, education sessions coveringcomposting, worm farming, and practicalmeasures to achieve sustainability in thehome. Other waste education activitiesincluded production of waste informationkits, promotions for composting andworm farming, community workshops,national recycling week and national wastecampaigns. As part of a School WasteEducation program, 2,000 students at 13schools were visited. The schools programresulted in a 21 tonne reduction in waste tolandfill over the last year.ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08Amount of waste to landfill (tonnes)* 99,469 104,148 102,399 103,012Amount of domestic waste (tonnes) 35,754 36,313 36,937 37,867Amount of waste recycled (tonnes) 15,957 15,852 15,937 17,060Number of abandoned vehicles 489 514 473 415*Figures differ from previous SOE Reports to include waste to landfill at Helensburgh as well as at Whytes Gully waste disposal depots.14 Wollongong City Council