South Australia's waste management and recycling sector will get a $1.7 million boost with the Marshall Liberal Government approving a range of projects to help reduce the amount of household waste sent to landfill.
The funding delivered through Green Industries SA will assist councils to upgrade and modernise waste collection and recycling services to increase the kerbside diversion rate through innovation and improved efficiencies.
Twenty-two regional councils will also benefit from transport subsidies which will support councils' continued recycling efforts by offsetting some of the extra costs associated with processing and transporting collected recyclables.
Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said the $1.7 million is for three programs – one to reduce food waste sent to landfill, another to help councils modernise their collection systems and the other is for regional council transport subsidies.
"Improved waste management is not only good for the environment, but it contributes to South Australia's economic growth by creating jobs and developing new business opportunities to recycle and reuse our resources right here in South Australia," said Minister Speirs.
"The single, largest remaining area for improvement in council kerbside systems is food waste which makes up to 40 per cent of the weight of household residual waste bins sent to landfill.
"By supporting councils to improve their collection of food waste we can lower waste management costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a valuable resource like compost.
"I congratulate the seven councils awarded funding under the Kerbside Performance Plus (Food Organics) Incentives Program for their commitment towards implementing systems which assist with the diversion of food waste from landfill."
Councils receive a subsidy for the cost of bench-top containers, compostable bags and production of householder education material.
Twelve local government organisations have also received funding to help modernise their collection services to increase landfill diversion, decrease contamination levels and improve data collection.
"Congratulations to the 12 local government organisations who are willing to push the envelope with investment in alternative delivery models and technologies such as smart bins to improve operational efficiencies," said Minister Speirs.
"High transport costs for recycling in regional areas has long been recognised as a barrier which is why 22 regional councils will benefit from transport subsidies to support their continued recycling efforts by offsetting some of the extra costs associated with processing and transporting collected recyclables."
Local Government (food waste) program
Barossa Valley Council – new area-wide system for 5,200 households $24,472.16
City of Mount Gambier – reinvigorated opt-in system for 5,500 households $32,954
City of Port Adelaide Enfield – reinvigorated area-wide system for 20,900 households $106,765.50
City of Port Augusta – new area-wide system for 6,000 households $28,291
City of Tea Tree Gully – reinvigorated opt-in service for 8,000 households $73,588
Rural City of Murray Bridge – new opt-in system for 400 households $2,043
Wattle Range Council – reinvigorated area-wide (townships) system for 4,400 households $18,900
Council Modernisation Program
Adelaide Hills Regional Waste Management Authority- Regional Waste Management Plan $20,000
East Waste - Fight Food waste CRC (audits, research) $90,000
City of Mitcham - Business Case $10,500
City of Port Adelaide Enfield Market research – Food Organics collection research $24,376
City of West Torrens - Weekly FOGO pilot $31,500
City of Tea Tree Gully - Public place recycling trial $33,306
City of Unley - Weekly Organics pilot $25,885
Holdfast Bay - Weekly Food and Green Organics (FOGO) collection pilot $97,900
Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority - 3 Logix waste track $80,000
Legatus Group (Central Local Govt Region) Regional Waste strategy $30,000
Murraylands River LGA - Regional Waste Management Plan update $35,000
Yorke Peninsula Council - Food waste feasibility and market research $20,000
Regional Transport Subsidies Program
Adelaide Plains Council $7,431.72
Berri Barmera Council $27,934.92
City of Mount Gambier $104,400.00
City of Port Lincoln $67,298.03
Copper Coast Council $27,898.08
District Council of Grant $21,717.00
District Council of Robe $7,181.76
Light Regional Council $12,412.32
Mid Murray Council $3,705.48
Mount Barker District Council $35,338.20
Naracoorte Lucindale Council $23,964.00
Port Augusta City Council $34,684.56
Port Pirie Regional Council $38,586.96
Renmark Paringa Council $21,741.12
Rural City of Murray Bridge $18,015.84
The Barossa Council $23,929.80
Wattle Range Council $38,767.20
Yorke Peninsula Council $23,431.92
Fleurieu Regional Waste Authority $125,759.52
(representing Alexandrina, Victor Harbor, Yankalilla and Kangaroo Island councils)
