Weighing in on Waste Management

I attended council’s General Meeting today. Firstly, I’ll just say that the meeting was really well run, all councillors seemed across the agenda items, and there was respectful and productive debate. While the council may be in caretaker mode, councillors and staff continue to work hard to support the community.

Local politics is about the good governance of community services. Council looks after roads, parks, beaches, rivers, public spaces, water, sewage and waste. There’s certainly more to it than “rates, roads and rubbish”, but it’s still important to focus on the basic services that impact everyone. These services affect our quality of life and day-to-day activities.

One of the agenda items today concerned a change of use at the Noosa Resource Recovery Centre (“the tip”) to be able to better manage waste sorting and recycling.

Waste Management is always a hot topic, and everyone has their opinion on kerbside waste collections, so I’ll throw in mine too! I’ve been hearing lots of arguments for and against among the community, so here is a quick summary:

FOR kerbside collections

• Free to all residents – cost can be a big factor in the decision to dispose of waste
• Opportunity to recycle and donate/find treasures  
• Encourages regular household clean ups (which assists in pest control)
• Efficient use of vehicles (waste is picked up in one area in one vehicle, rather than everyone drive to the tip separately)
• Convenient for those unable to lift items, or don’t have access to suitable vehicles
• Reduces risk of illegal dumping
• Cooroy and Pomona facilities have very restrictive hours, meaning more travel and waiting at the Noosa facility in Doonan
• Renters are moving house often due to rent increases, often having to downsize – moving is already expensive
• Tip vouchers may be issued to ratepayers – but do they make their way to tenants?

AGAINST kerbside collections – individual responsibility to use the tip

• Reduced cost for council (although saving may be offset by offering tip vouchers to ratepayers)
• Less risk of toxic waste being dumped on the street
• Brings in waste from outside the Noosa area
• Less personal responsibility to recycle items – all gets dumped for collection
• Creates peak demand on the waste facilities during collection times rather than spreading over the year (which leads to more items going into landfill as sorting facilities are already struggling)
• “Unsightly streets” (as per council’s website)
• Elevates the risk of litter and micro-litter finding its way into the ocean through stormwater systems (as per council’s website).

So what’s the answer?

I believe this is an important community service that most residents value, whether or not they use it. The cost to deliver such a service must be less than the collective cost of residents taking their items individually.

I’d like to see kerbside collections reinstated at least once a year, in conjunction with other solution that council already offers. Those who have the resources to access the tip and other facilities should take advantage of the facilities provided – there are a number of “Free Disposal Items” you can take to any of the three waste facilities (Noosaville, Cooroy, Pomona). As to the “against” reasons, I’d like to see:

• data evaluating the quantum and impact of these issues (in particular toxic waste levels and items that could be recycled)
• investment in community education regarding alternative disposal solutions, and management of the collection schedule to reduce the impact on the facility.

NOTE

Just a little disclaimer… I’m not issuing a personal manifesto that I have no power to deliver without a team effort. Development of policy is a lengthy process requiring input from all stakeholders. Most importantly, it should incorporate the data, analysis and research that council staff undertake, and I don’t currently have access to those crucial resources. So this is my personal opinion based on the limited information to hand, and discussions within the community.

I give my full commitment that if elected as a councillor I will use my skills, qualifications and professional experience to fully research issues, listen to residents, relevant stakeholders and experts, and work with the mayor and other councillors to find the best solution for the community.

It’s your future! Please vote for a council that will work well together in your best interests, to serve our community.

Image credit – Sunshine Coast Daily