We are currently exhibiting our draft Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2024-2034.
Built with community input and waste management expertise, the strategy charts a ten-year path to sustainable waste and resource management in Wollongong.
It contains a range of proposed ideas like a community repair hub, pursuing a solution for soft plastics and increasing FOGO opportunities for residents in multi-unit dwellings.
The draft strategy also mentions investigating ideas to improve waste service efficiency, with one example being an option for opt-in fortnightly landfill (red-lid bin) collections.
We know the Wollongong community cares about waste and we are encouraged by the feedback members of our community have provided on the draft ideas in the strategy already.
It's important to note that there has been no decision or plans made by Council to make changes to the frequency of the household collection cycle at this current time.
The draft waste strategy is the beginning of a conversation about how we manage waste in our community. What we're proposing is to explore how together we can reduce the amount of general waste to landfill that needs collecting.
We know some in our community currently need a weekly red-lid bin service. We also know, from audit data, that 30% of red-lid bin contents is organic matter which belongs in the green-lid bin. Others have their household waste management to a point where they may not need a weekly service.
That's why, as one part of the draft waste strategy, we will look at options for our domestic waste service. Whether the actions are opt-out, opt-in, introducing a rebate, or keeping the current weekly schedule, these are all ideas to explore with our community as we work towards extending the life of our only landfill facility, Whyte's Gully.
Between capital and recurrent expenditure, managing waste is the largest item in Council's budget each year, and it will only get more challenging as the population grows. Landfill is also one of the biggest contributors to Wollongong's greenhouse gas emissions.
We know that many in our community are thinking differently about how we much we consume and the waste this consumption generates.
We encourage you to review the proposed ideas in the draft waste strategy and share your feedback at our.wollongong.nsw.gov.au before 23 July 2024.
