By Jenel Hunt
With a proposed $6 million new landfill cell at the Warwick waste facility expected to last only six years at the current level of use, Southern Downs mayor Melissa Hamilton has made a public plea for residents to change the way they deal with their waste.
“Given that around half of all waste that enters landfill is food, organic and garden waste, each of us can play a part by reducing food waste and composting food and garden waste at home where we can,” she said.
“Measures like these could almost double the lifespan of a landfill cell, resulting in significantly reduced costs to ratepayers.”
While she hoped residents would embrace better waste management strategies, she said the council would also be looking for new technologies for reducing landfill waste and improving recycling options.
Reducing the impact of providing waste services would be a key focus for the council in the council’s advocacy to state and federal government going forward, Cr Hamilton said.
Cr Sarah Deane, whose ‘healthy communities’ portfolio includes waste management and resource recovery, told the council meeting on 12 June that a quarter of all materials currently being put into general waste were actually recyclables.
“Not only is waste management costly but also it has a significant impact on our environment,” she said.
“As responsible residents, we have a duty to minimise our waste production and maximise our recycling effort. Every small step we take towards reducing, reusing and recycling can make a big difference.
“Each of us can play a part in increasing the percentage of our household recycling and keeping recyclables out of our landfill.
“It’s an expensive process and I would like to see the life of the landfill extended for as long as possible.
In principle I do support the $6 million assigned to the new [landfill] cell, however I would like to work with the council staff in future to work toward a waste-to-energy facility, the type of facility that would help manage our waste more sustainably while also generating energy. It’s innovation that will benefit the community in the long run.”
Another $2.5 million has been allocated across the region for waste facilities.
