Changing the community’s perception of waste and how it is managed is at the heart of a new plan by Noosa Council.
The From Waste to Resource Waste Plan 2023-28 is now out for community feedback and support until September 10.
Noosa mayor Clare Stewart said a key motivator of the draft plan was to transition to a circular economy to reuse and recycle waste, and create economic opportunities.
“Waste management is one of the leading challenges facing every community and it is very much a shared responsibility,” she said.
“Our landfill sites account for a massive 63 per cent of council emissions, which reinforces the need to reduce what we send to landfill and to find better ways to reuse waste.”
The new waste plan has been developed to align with federal, state and South-East Queensland policies and plans.
“This draft plan recognises how waste can be a valuable resource to deliver economic and environmental benefits to the community,” Ms Stewart said.
In preparing the draft, council considered 624 responses received during community consultation earlier this year and responded to the changes in the evolving waste industry.
Noosa is strengthening its collaboration with Gympie Council through a Memorandum of Understanding to develop innovative, cost-effective solutions to waste management.
Waste services manager Kyrone Dodd said the plan would guide investment in waste and resource recovery infrastructure.
“Well-planned infrastructure and embracing new technologies are critical as we strive to become a zero-waste society by 2035,” he said.
Council has purchased a polystyrene thermal compaction unit following a six-month trial of a smaller unit. A recycling vending machine is also in place at the landfill to further enhance recycling of containers.
“Another crucial aspect is personal responsibility, which means taking ownership of what we purchase and being mindful of unnecessary consumption,” Mr Dodd said.
Nearly 80 per cent of the Noosa community rates protecting the environment as important when it comes to managing waste. A further 62 per cent say reducing waste at the source is paramount to a sustainable future.
“Compostable organic material, such as kitchen scraps, thrown into general waste bins accounts for 40 per cent of the material we currently send to landfill,” Ms Stewart said.
“Reducing the volume of this organic material winding up in landfill each year is a major focus of the waste plan and we need the support of the community to make it happen.”
All Queensland local governments are required to have a Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan under the Queensland Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011.
Have your say on the draft plan here.
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