State of Environment Report 2007-08 - Wollongong City Council

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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
Noise (kaman) | State of the Environment Report 2007-2008Noise (kaman)Noise (kaman)Current state and pressuresThe majority of noise affecting thecommunity comes from individualincidents affecting individuals rather thanthe broader environment. A number ofpressures exist that may impact on thebroader noise environment, like increasesin housing density, because the smallerthe block, the higher the noise levelexperienced at adjoining premises.The number of noise complaints receivedby Council increased slightly in 2007-08,compared with the previous year. During2007-08, Council received a total of 662complaints regarding noise. Over twothirds of these complaints concernedbarking dogs (Fig. 2). Although Council hasongoing education and managementprograms to address this issue,management of barking dogs is ultimatelythe responsibility of their owners. Othernoise complaints related to the operationof tools and amplified sound equipment.Major responsesCouncil is one of the primary authoritiesdealing with noise generated fromnon-scheduled industrial and commercialpremises, as well as community noise. Thepolice also play a major role in resolvingoffensive noise complaints, while DECC isresponsible for controlling noise fromlarge-scale, scheduled industrialpremises.Certain domestic noise sources are part ofeveryday living. To balance the socialneeds of the community with the impact ofnoise from these domestic sources,Council generally allows the use of certainTable 5 Hours of restricted use of certain equipmentNOISE SOURCETIME RESTRICTIONSPower tools and equipment 8pm to 7am on weekdays and(powered garden tools, Saturday.chainsaws, gas or air 8pm to 8am on Sunday and Publiccompressors, swimming pool Holidays.pumps).Musical instruments and 12 midnight to 8am every day.sound equipment (radios,TVs, computer games).Air conditioners.10pm to 7am on weekdays.10pm to 8am on weekends andPublic Holidays.Motor vehicles (except when 8pm to 7am on weekdays.entering or leaving the 8pm to 8am on weekends andpremises).Public Holidays.Refrigeration units fitted tomotor vehicles.Figure 2 Number of noise complaints received by CouncilNumber of Complaints70060050040030020010008pm to 7am on weekdays.8pm to 8am on weekends andPublic Holidays.2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08Barking Dogs Transport Commercial/IndustrialBirds/AnimalsDomesticdomestic noise causing articles and activities, subject to them beingused within acceptable times. Table 5 adopted from the NSW DECDealing with Neighbourhood Noise Manual (2004), indicates thehours of restricted use for certain equipment.Council is the consent authority for all development within theWollongong LGA. Prior to approving a development application,Council considers the environmental noise implications of thedevelopment.DECC has an ongoing program to reduce noise from scheduledindustrial premises. The main method that DECC uses to ensurereductions in noise are pollution reduction programs (PRPs). In2007-08, three noise related PRPs were negotiated with scheduledindustries.ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08Noise complaints received by Council 660 572 632 662Wollongong City Council 15
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Page 24: The City of WollongongThe SOE Repor

State of Environment Report 2007-08 - Wollongong City Council

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