Innovations in Waste Management: the Hunter Showcase
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Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase 2014 – 2017 Prepared by the Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils Environment Division on behalf of the Hunter Waste Region Councils. This project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy. Hunter Joint Organisation 0 1Councils ~EPA Councils of the Hunter Waste Region \ j ' -=-(s3) Sincleton ) J.~!L. ...... , ,t. muswellbrook II II~ shire council maitland We MAc.qva.lrie city council City Councll CESSNOCK C I TY COUNCIL I Authors: Contact Details: Suggested Bibliographic Citation: Michael Neville Hunter Councils Environment Division Hunter Joint Organisation of Bradley Nolan PO Box 3137 Councils, (2017) Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase Steve Wilson THORNTON NSW 2322 (2014-17), Hunter Joint Organisation P 02 4978 4020 of Councils, Thornton, NSW E [email protected] Disclaimer This document has been compiled in good faith, exercising all due care and attention. Strategic Services Australia (as legal agent for the Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils) does not accept responsibility for inaccurate or incomplete information. © Hunter Joint Organisation of Council, 2017 (Strategic Services Australia as legal agent) 2 Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase Contents Welcome from the Chair – Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils 4 The Hunter Waste Region 5 Vision 6 The Waste Region at a Glance 8 A Framework for Action 10 Working Togather 11 Engaging with the community 12 Illegal dumping and littering 14 Improving infrastructure and services 16 Hunter Region disposal and recycling opportunities 18 Cessnock City Council 20 Dungog Shire Council 24 Lake Macquarie City Council 28 Maitland City Council 32 - . ·-- - ~-" - -· - ·-- -..-:: -- .....- - -~-: - - Muswellbrook Shire Council 36 --. - . .,., -. - , , Newcastle City Council 40 Port Stephens Council 44 Singleton Council 48 Upper Hunter Shire Council 52 ./5f' / • Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase 3 Welcome Since 2013 the Councils of the Hunter have been working together to progress a common vision for sustainable waste management across our region. As individual Councils, and collectively through the Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils, we are well aware of the waste management and resource recovery challenges facing our region as population, waste generation rates, community expectations and environmental standards rise. By working together, we have been able meet these challenges and to capitalise on the opportunities that an innovative approach to waste management has generated. As you will see, our achievements have been significant with highlights being: • Attracting over $13 million in grant funding to the region to deliver local and regional waste As well as our regional successes, all Councils have management initiatives celebrated significant improvements to their local • The development and implementation of waste management services and systems, bringing regionally consistent initiatives to engage positive benefits to both their local communities with our communities on waste issues, raise and the environment. awareness and facilitate the adoption of better waste management practices by residents and Yet there is still more to do. Our success so far businesses provides a springboard from which to further consolidate and expand our efforts over the next • Provision of advocacy tools and facilitation of four years. a united front to the State Government on key waste policy issues I wish to thank all members of our Hunter Region • Increasing the capacity of Council staff to deliver communities for their commitment to the better more efficient and effective waste services management of waste and I look forward to continuing to work with our member Councils to • Improvement and expansion of waste collection further progress this valuable work. and processing systems • Active improvement in collaboration and working relationships between Councils, the NSW Environment Protection Authority and other key industry stakeholders • Improved knowledge of the Region’s waste streams through more integrated and effective BOB PYNSENT data collection and analysis. CHAIRPERSON, HUNTER JOINT ORGANISATION OF COUNCILS 4 Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase The Hunter Waste Region IN 2015/16 THE HUNTER WASTE REGION HAD UPPER HUNTER •• A total••+ population of 633,319 DUNGOG MUSWELLBROO MAITLAND Generated SINGLETON PORT STEPHENS 351,246 Tonnes of waste CESSNOC NEWCASTLE Achieved a landfill diversion rate of LAE MACUARIE 40% The Hunter Waste Region is located north of the out regional objectives and strategies across Sydney Metropolitan Area and was established in seven different themes: 2013 under the NSW Government’s “Waste Less 1. Avoidance and Waste Reduction Recycle More” Initiative. During 2014-17 the Waste Region was comprised of 9 member councils. 2. Increased recycling and resource recovery The waste region is wholly contained within the area 3. Diversion of waste from landfill of the Hunter Joint Organisation (JO) of Councils, 4. Managing problem wastes although not all members of the JO are members 5. Reducing litter of the waste region. Mid Coast Council is part of the Mid Waste Region. 6. Reducing Illegal Dumping A Regional Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery 7. Governance and Leading by Example (WARR) Strategy was completed in 2014 that sets Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase 5 Our Vision To pro-actively implement an evolutionary and sustainable waste management system for the Hunter Region, enabling the whole community to improve the environment and community well-being by reducing the environmental impact of waste and using resources more efficiently. 6 Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase Aaron Malloy Alice Howe Angelika Hesse Port Stephens Council Lake Macquarie City Council Singleton Council John Misniewski David Simm Darren North Muswellbrook Shire Council Maitland City Council Newcastle City Council Matt Pringle Micheal Alexander Paul Minett Upper Hunter Shire Council Cessnock City Council Dungog Shire Council At a Glance SQUARE KMS 22,694 2011/12 (Baseline) 2015/16 POPULATION 602,238 633,319 TOTAL WASTE GENERATED 314,946t 351,246t PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL WASTE TO LANDFILL 70% 60% PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL WASTE RECOVERED 30% 40% 8 Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase Our councils have delivered quality services that have increased resource recovery and reduced waste to landfill We now recover around 40% of all waste generated in the region This is the equivalent to a line of recycling trucks stretching 163 kms – the distance from Newcastle CBD to Sydney Airport And equivalent to other savings of: 82,113 19,721 tonnes of carbon cars permanently emissions. removed from the road. 900 3.7m Olympic swimming wheelie bins saved pools of water. from landfill. Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase 9 A Framework for Action Development of the 2014-17 Hunter WARR Strategy provided the framework to guide collaborative waste management by the Region’s Councils. The Strategy established a collective vision and agreed priorities, along with specific objectives and targets to be pursued over the 2014-2017 period. The Hunter Joint Organisation of Councils received dedicated funding from the NSW EPA to facilitate delivery of the local, sub-regional and regional actions identified in the strategy. 1 Working Engaging Together with the Community 4 2 Improving Infrastructure and Services Illegal Dumping and Littering 3 10 Innovations in Waste Management: The Hunter Showcase Working Together The Strategy aims to build regional communication, improve governance and information systems, increase knowledge and information, and improve the capacity of Council staff to deliver Waste Reduction outcomes. Key Achievements Regional forums and professional capacity building have increased Council staff knowledge, The Hunter WARR Strategy provided the impetus for understanding, and capacity to address a variety of a number of Councils to develop an update on their waste management issues and needs. local waste strategies which actively contribute to Forums have focussed on: local, regional, and state-wide waste reduction and landfill diversion targets. • Updated resource recovery orders and exemptions for recycled organics Regional Networks including the Regional Waste Managers and Hunter Waste Educator Groups • Market development opportunities for recycled have encouraged information sharing and the organics in the Hunter collaborative, region-wide roll out of activities, • Organics collection and processing services and provided a regular forum for improved liaison • Improving the preparedness of waste and communication with key industry stakeholders management systems and services to ensure and Government agencies business continuity during natural disasters. Regional submissions have provided a united Direct investment in professional development regional voice on key waste management issues activities for Council staff has built the knowledge and initiatives, such as the NSW Container Deposit and skills needed to be even more effective in Legislation, NSW Waste Education Strategy, the modern waste management industry. Focus Minimum standards for managing construction areas included recycled organics management; and demolition waste, State wide data collection environmental assessment, approvals and and reporting standards, and the Waste Less compliance; contract administration