City of Lake Macquarie Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Table of Contents

Introduction 4 Why do we need a waste strategy? 4 Scope and timeframe 5 Priorities 5 Demographics of Lake Macquarie City 5

Community involvement in the development of this Strategy 7

Policy context and drivers 8 Federal Government 8 NSW Government 8 Hunter Region Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 10 Local policy 10

A snapshot of our City’s waste 11 Waste composition 13

Analysis of waste collection and processing technology options 19

Current waste services 21 Domestic waste services 21 Commercial, industrial, construction and demolition waste services 22 Public place waste services 22 School waste services 22 Illegal dumping compliance services 23 Community engagement and support services 23

Current waste facilities 25 Awaba Waste Management Facility 25 Summerhill and Buttonderry Waste Facilities 25 Awaba Community Recycling Centre 25 Awaba Garden Waste Processing Facility 25 Gateshead Materials Recovery Facility 25 E-Waste and metals processing facilities 26 Problem and hazardous waste processing facilities 26

Future waste facilities 27 Expansion of the Awaba Waste Management Facility 27 Expansion of organics collection and processing capability 27 Materials processing capability 27 Awaba Community Recycling Centre 27 Waste to energy 27

2 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Future waste services 28 Waste avoidance and reduction 28 Increased recycling and diversion of waste from landfill 28 Managing problem wastes 29 Reducing litter 30 Reducing illegal dumping 30 Participation in regional activities 30

Review 31

Acronyms 31

Glossary 32

List of tables Table 1: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy targets 9 Table 2: Waste to landfill and resources recovered in Lake Macquarie City 12 Table 3: 10 potential technology solutions for the City’s waste strategy 20 Table 4: Waste packages available for multi unit dwelling complexes 21

List of figures Figure 1: Locality plan of Lake Macquarie City, showing location of key waste facilities 6 Figure 2: Waste hierarchy adopted by the NSW Government in 2014 8 Figure 3: Proportion of different waste streams entering the Awaba Waste Management Facility 2007-08 to 2013-14 (MSW, C&I, C&D) 12 Figure 4: Composition of waste received at the Awaba Waste Management Facility in 2013-14 13 Figure 5: Self-hauled waste sent to the Awaba Waste Management Facility in 2010 14 Figure 6: Commercial and industrial waste sent to the Awaba Waste Management Facility in 2010 14 Figure 7: Construction and demolition waste composition (excluding cover material) in 2010 15 Figure 8: Composition of kerbside garbage waste bins 2013 for single unit dwellings in 2013. 15 Figure 9: Biannual kerbside domestic bulk waste composition in 2010 16 Figure 10: Waste composition of MUDs (multi unit dwellings) compared to SUDs (single unit dwellings) in 2013 16 Figure 11: Composition of commercial garbage bins in 2014 17 Figure 12: Composition of waste from six Council facilities in 2013 18

Appendix 1: 2015–16 Waste Action Plan 33

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 3 Introduction

In 2009, Council embarked on Limited landfill capacity Cost efficiency the development of a new waste Council’s only active landfill at Awaba Council disposes of residual wastes strategy for the City. Some actions has limited capacity. As of December at the Awaba Waste Management resulting from the research and 2014, it had space for just over Facility. Managing the landfill does consultation around developing three years of the City’s waste. Any not generate income for Council. new services and infrastructure are wastes that cannot be recovered Fees paid at the landfill for accepting already underway. and recycled are destined for landfill. waste, and through commercial This document outlines those Long-term access to suitable and domestic waste management developments, describes existing landfill capacity is a key element charges, balance the ongoing services and new opportunities, of Council’s waste management costs of managing the facility. and identifies plans for future strategy. These charges include covering improvement. It sets clear targets the costs of plant, equipment, and strategies to achieve them, and Community expectations staff and environmental monitoring orientates these strategies within The people of Lake Macquarie at the site as well as the site’s the broader framework of Council’s enjoy the natural environment that remediation. They also include a policies and plans, and the regional the lake and its surroundings offer. NSW Government levy, the Waste context. They also expect clean, efficient Levy, that is charged per tonne of and cost-effective waste collection waste deposited in landfill. and disposal services. This Waste The Waste Levy has been Why do we need a Strategy aims to deliver high quality, rising annually in line with NSW waste strategy? accessible and affordable waste Government targets aimed at This Lake Macquarie City Waste services that represent best practice driving increased resource recovery Strategy has been developed to while minimising environmental and reduction of waste to landfill. contribute to achieving Council’s impacts. There will always be a need Council must include these levy vision of a sustainable and equitable to dispose of some types of residual increases in their fees and charges. City. It identifies aims, barriers and wastes in landfill that cannot be Landfilling is becoming a more and costs involved in delivering current otherwise recovered and processed; more expensive waste management and future waste services and however, there is increasing practice and alternative methods facilities consistent with achieving community interest in resource that focus on recovering resources that vision. It seeks to address, at a recovery. from the waste stream are becoming local level, global imperatives such Community surveys demonstrate more economically attractive. as optimising the use of scarce that waste services consistently rank Projects that focus on recovery of natural resources, beneficially highest among the range of services materials are therefore becoming reusing materials, and minimising the provided by Council in terms financially and socially viable. impact of waste on society and the of importance and satisfaction. In summary, rising charges environment. Consultation programs have associated with landfill are driving A number of key local issues are identified a community expectation waste management practices away also driving the development of that Council’s operations and from waste disposal via landfilling sustainable waste management services become more sustainable and into more sustainable practices practices: over time and, in particular, that of resource recovery. Council continue to manage the City’s waste within its boundaries.

4 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Scope and timeframe Priorities Demographics of This Strategy documents Council’s The Lake Macquarie City Waste Lake Macquarie City waste management direction to Strategy aims to define and drive The City of Lake Macquarie City 2023. The Strategy describes development of sustainable and (Figure 1) is home to a population existing and planned waste equitable waste management of about 200,000 people. This management facilities and services practices for the City, with the community is expected to grow to provided or supported by Council to following priorities: around 260,000 by 2030, creating manage the City’s waste. 1. Resource consumption impacts demand for an estimated 36,500 The Strategy includes management are minimised new dwellings. practices for the majority of 2. Waste generation is minimised Lake Macquarie City covers a waste streams generated within 3. A range of tools is available geographical area of 757 square the City, but focuses mainly on to guide development of kilometres. It stretches from the household wastes. It does not cover sustainable, safe and attractive coastal areas of Whitebridge management of liquid waste or the infrastructure in the City and Dudley in the north, south to management of mining and power Swansea and Catherine Hill Bay and generation waste, such as coal 4. Required infrastructure is across the lake to Wyee. The LGA tailings, chitter, fly ash and fugitive provided in a timely manner is predominantly a mix of suburban gas emissions. 5. Relationships with key agencies and peri-urban land uses, with the are fostered urban populations concentrated 6. Opportunities are available for around Lake Macquarie. members of the community to There are currently around 82,000 have input on matters that affect premises in the City for which waste them services are available. The majority 7. Council advocates on behalf (70,000) are residential single unit of its community on matters of dwellings (SUDs). There are also importance to the City around 3,500 commercial premises and 8,000 residential multi unit dwellings (MUDs). These MUDs are typically in low-rise complexes of less than 10 dwelling units. Most residential premises (99 per cent) and about 55 per cent of commercial premises utilise Council’s kerbside and other waste services. The remainder are serviced by private providers.

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 5 Figure 1: Locality plan of Lake Macquarie City, showing location of key waste facilities

6 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Community involvement in the development of this Strategy

In early 2010, Council conducted The clear message from the a new recycling contract with Solo a comprehensive Review of ‘Best consultation was that the majority Resource Recovery, which delivered Practice’ Waste Management of the respondents support the considerable cost savings to Alternatives. This review examined preferred solution. The key results ratepayers. a range of waste management were: In 2013, Council placed on hold technologies and provided Council • 64 per cent of submissions an overall waste strategy for the with 10 waste recovery and during public exhibition preferred City pending the outcomes of the treatment options (pages 19 and 20). the phased 3-bin option and 22 NSW Government’s waste reforms, Over the period of July 2010 to per cent preferred the alternative release of the draft NSW Waste October 2010, Council conducted two bin option. Avoidance and Resource Recovery extensive community engagement • 69 per cent of survey (WARR) Strategy, and development to raise awareness and seek respondents preferred the of the draft Hunter Region Waste community input on the future of phased 3-bin option as the best Avoidance and Resource Recovery waste in the City, culminating in the option for their household, 18 per Strategy. public exhibition of the preferred cent preferred a two-bin system Once these state and regional waste waste technology for the City. The and 9 per cent would be satisfied strategies were completed, Council consultation methods included with either. was in a position to update the draft workshops, information sessions, On 28 February 2011 Council Lake Macquarie City Waste Strategy an online discussion forum, resolved to adopt a waste and seek further community input. structured debate, one-on-one processing strategy incorporating: The draft Lake Macquarie City Waste correspondence, submission forms Strategy 2015-2023 was publicly and a representative community 1. A phased three bin, source exhibited between 9 July 2015 and survey. In total, more than 1,600 separated organics (SSO) system 24 August 2015 and was adopted in residents contributed to the with phasing of: September 2015. discussion on the future of the City’s a. Phase 1 – a source separated waste services. green (garden) SSG, fortnightly collection commencing as soon The preferred solution that Council as is practicable; took to the local community in late 2010 involved the following key b. Phase 2 – a source separated elements: organics (garden and kitchen) SSO weekly collection 1. Introduction of a phased 3-bin commencing as soon as is kerbside waste service. Phase practicable. 1 involved a new kerbside green bin for garden waste only, 2. A weekly mixed solid waste collected fortnightly. Phase 2 (MSW) collection during Phase 1 involved adding food waste to of the SSO system and fortnightly the green bin, collecting the MSW collection during Phase 2 green bin weekly, and collecting of the SSO system. the garbage bin fortnightly. 3. Continuation of a fortnightly dry 2. Construction of a new organics recyclables kerbside collection. composting plant to process the In late 2012, Council commenced City’s garden and food waste into an extensive community education high quality mulch and compost. program to support the introduction 3. Expansion of the Awaba Waste of the Phase 1 service, which Management Facility for the began on 1 April 2013. On 1 July long-term disposal of the City’s 2013, Council, through Hunter residual waste. Resource Recovery, commenced

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 7 Policy context and drivers

NSW and Federal laws and schemes NSW Government In December 2014, the NSW provide the policy environment Government released the NSW Waste in NSW is regulated primarily for development of new waste Waste Avoidance and Resource through the following legislative strategies for Lake Macquarie City. Recovery Strategy 2014-21 (WARR instruments: Strategy). This Strategy revises • Protection of the Environment the waste hierarchy (Figure 2) and Federal Government Operations Act 1997 and documents waste management associated Regulations Lake Macquarie’s directions will be targets for NSW across six key result influenced by an emerging national • Environmental Planning and areas (Table 1). policy environment. The Federal Assessment Act 1979 Government has developed a • Waste Avoidance and Resource National Waste Policy, which sets Recovery (WARR) Act 2001. a 10-year framework of priorities and guiding principles for managing Most preferable resource recovery issues and relevant stakeholder relationships. This initiative includes extended Avoid and reduce waste producer responsibility and related initiatives to concentrate attention on problematic waste streams such as Reuse waste e-waste and hazardous materials. The first of these product stewardship schemes relates to Recycle waste the management of television and computer waste. This waste stream is particularly important given the Recover energy environmental impacts of e-waste components and the high turnover of electrical devices, particularly Treat waste following the roll-out of digital television.

Dispose of waste

Least preferable

Figure 2: Waste hierarchy adopted by the NSW Government in 2014

8 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Table 1: NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy targets

Key Result Area Target 1. Avoid and reduce waste generation By 2021–22, reduce the rate of waste generation per capita 2. Increase recycling By 2021–22, increase recycling rates for: • municipal solid waste from 52% (in 2010–11) to 70% • commercial and industrial waste from 57% (in 2010–11) to 70% • construction and demolition waste from 75% (in 2010–11) to 80% 3. Divert more waste from landfill By 2021–22, increase the waste diverted from landfill from 63% (in 2010–11) to 75% 4. Manage problem wastes better By 2021–22, establish or upgrade 86 drop-off facilities or services for managing household problem wastes state-wide 5. Reduce litter By 2016–17, reduce the number of litter items by 40% compared with 2011–12 levels and then continue to reduce litter items to 2021–22. 6. Reduce illegal dumping From 2013–14, implement the NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2014–16 to reduce the incidence of illegal dumping state-wide As part of this strategy, by 2016–17: • reduce the incidence of illegal dumping in Sydney and the Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast regions by 30% compared with 2010–11 • establish baseline data to allow target-setting in other parts of the state

In addition to the WARR Strategy, Waste Less Recycle Limitation on landfill the NSW Government has a range More initiative approvals of other waste policy instruments Another financial motivator is the The third element of the NSW including the: NSW Government’s Waste Less Government’s waste avoidance • NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy Recycle More (WLRM) Initiative, and resource recovery program is 2013-15; introduced in 2013. WLRM returns a limitation on new landfill facility • Energy from Waste Policy; and a small portion of the Waste Levy approval. Under amendments to receipts to local government through State Environmental Planning Policy • Waste Reduction and Purchasing its Better Waste and Recycling Fund (Infrastructure), the relevant consent Policy. (BWRF). The BWRF to Council in authority is required to consider how 2014-15 was $425,095. a proponent proposes to minimise The NSW waste levy In addition to this direct funding, waste to landfill, and in particular: To discourage landfilling, the NSW local government may compete for a 1a) whether there is a suitable level Government charges a levy, on a per range of grant programs supported of recovery of waste, such as by tonne basis, for all the material that by the WLRM Initiative. Since using alternative waste treatment or is disposed of in landfill. The levy for commencement of this competitive the composting of food and garden Lake Macquarie is set at $133.10 grants program, Council has waste, so that the amount of waste per tonne for the financial year received the following grants: is minimised before it is placed in 2015-16. The future of the Waste • Early start Community Recycling the landfill. Levy beyond 2016 is uncertain. The Centre ($0.25m) (2013-14); cost of the levy to Lake Macquarie waste services in 2014-15 is likely to • Regional Illegal Dumping Squad be about $11.6 million, which directly ($1.60m) (2013-14); affects charges for ratepayers. • Love Food Hate Waste ($0.07m) (2013-14); • Orphaned Asbestos Clean Up ($0.17m) (2013-14, 2014-15); • Combatting Illegal Dumping ($0.15m) (2014-15); • Organics Infrastructure ($1.40m) (2014-15); and • Organics Collection ($0.69m) (2014-15).

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 9 Hunter Region Waste • Constrained garbage bin Environmental Sustainability Avoidance and capacity, either through a 140 Action Plan litre bin collected weekly or a 240 Council has established its own Resource Recovery litre bin collected fortnightly; waste reduction target, which Strategy • Organic waste collection and is documented in the City of processing of: Lake Macquarie Environmental One of the key initiatives of the Sustainability Action Plan 2014- NSW Government’s 2013 waste - Food waste treated through 2023. This target is to achieve a reforms was to enhance regional anaerobic digestion 75 per cent reduction in per capita collaboration in the development - Garden waste treated waste to landfill for the City by 2023, and implementation of waste and through windrow composting relative to a 2007-08 baseline of resource recovery strategic plans. - Mixed food and garden waste 616 kg per capita. This equates to In 2013, nine Hunter councils treated through in-vessel 154 kg per capita to landfill in 2023. (Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port composting; Lifestyle 2030 and Stephens, Maitland, Cessnock, • Mechanical biological treatment, Community Plans Singleton, Muswellbrook, Upper based on the Bedminster facility Council’s Lifestyle 2030 Strategy Hunter and Dungog) agreed to at Port Stephens; develop a regional waste strategy. provides the long-term direction • Waste avoidance through The draft Hunter Region Waste for strategic land use and land increased education campaigns; Avoidance and Resource Recovery management planning in the City, Strategy 2014-2021 describes a • Regional landfilling, rather than while the Community Strategic vision for management of waste in each council operating its own Plan 2013-2023 has a key focus the Hunter and seven key themes landfill; and on caring for the environment. This for regional action, which closely • Waste to energy through focus area includes provision of align with the targets in the WARR gasification of residual garbage waste management services that Strategy: with pre-treatment. enhance and sustain the natural, social, cultural and built environment, 1. Waste avoidance and reduction; None of these individual options has and contribute to an equitable the capacity to achieve the WARR 2. Increased recycling and resource regional and global ecological Strategy targets for domestic waste; recovery; footprint. The Delivery Program however, combined effort across a 3. Diversion of waste from landfill; 2013-2017 sets out Council’s number of options could do so. 4. Managing problem household objectives and plans for managing wastes; and expanding existing commercial and residential waste collection and 5. Reducing litter; Local policy processing services to maximise 6. Reducing illegal dumping; and Council operates its waste services resource recovery. 7. Governance and leading by in accordance with the requirements Environmental policies example. of the NSW Local Government Act Council has a number of other policy The draft Strategy for the Hunter 1993 and its established policy framework. positions that influence this Waste focuses on domestic waste. Strategy including its Sustainability It includes analysis of the 2011-12 Local Government Act Policy, which requires Council to waste management infrastructure The Local Government Act has minimise the use of natural resources and services of the region, and specific requirements for councils and waste generation in its own a number of options for regional to provide an integrated, not-for- operations, and its Greenhouse Gas collaboration to improve waste profit waste service to domestic Emissions Reduction Targets Policy, management in the Hunter. Options ratepayers. Councils do not generally which seeks to reduce carbon investigated include: have the capacity to compel emissions from both Council and • The status quo (baseline to commercial tenants and ratepayers the City. compare other options against); to use their waste services. • Maximising performance by better utilising existing infrastructure;

10 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 A snapshot of our City’s waste

Waste streams In order to develop best management practices, an understanding of the City’s different waste streams is required. Council has carried out a range of waste audits in order to understand the composition of the City’s major waste streams. This includes waste collected at the kerbside and from public places, and the waste that is disposed of at the Awaba Waste Management Facility. Three main types of waste are commonly identified by the waste collection and processing industry: • Domestic waste - often called municipal solid waste or MSW, most of this is collected via kerbside collections but also includes waste hauled to landfill by residents. • Commercial and industrial waste – often referred to as C&I waste, since it is sourced from commercial and industrial enterprises. This waste can comprise one type of material (e.g. cardboard packaging from an electronics store) or mixed materials (e.g. food waste, tonnes) or collected via Council’s Management Facility. The majority packaging, plastics, papers etc bulk waste collections (8 per cent, of this is C&D waste, of which from a restaurant). 6,237 tonnes). 15,240 tonnes was landfill and • Construction and demolition Green waste bin collections make up 8,122 tonnes usable for operational waste – C&D waste is primarily 24 per cent (18,513 tonnes) of the purposes. Only 3,632 tonnes of C&I inert building waste, such as MSW category presented at Awaba. waste was landfilled. wood, bricks and concrete. This garden waste is combined In general, the City is making Waste to landfill in the City is with a further 3,700 tonnes of green substantial progress in reducing generally declining (Table 2). The waste from other streams. A total of the amount of waste it sends to majority of waste presented at the 22,219 tonnes of green waste was landfill, and increasing the amount Awaba Waste Management Facility diverted from landfill in 2013-14. of material recovered for reuse. is MSW generated by households In addition to waste sent to landfill There is, however, opportunity to (74 per cent; 76,305 tonnes; Figure and green waste diverted, 23,339 further improve the City’s waste 3). Most of this material is derived tonnes of dry recyclables were management performance, from Council’s weekly household recovered for reuse in 2013-14. particularly in relation to minimising garbage bin collections (54 per cent, waste generation and encouraging In 2013-14 C&I and C&D wastes 40,853 tonnes) a smaller proportion the commercial sector to participate made up 26 per cent of waste is driven to the landfill by residents in resource recovery activities. themselves (5 per cent, 3,468 presented at the Awaba Waste

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 11 Table 2: Waste to landfill and resources recovered (in tonnes) in Lake Macquarie City

Waste stream 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14

MSW received at AWMF 72,842 72,948 80,933 81,484 78,529 76,560 77,6 3 4 79,528 82,258 76,305

C&I received at AWMF1 60,430 40,294 32,487 39,215 25,348 22,360 21,061 25,756 4,943 3,632

C&D received at AWMF1 6,177 6,628 19,282 38,705 26,905 30,954 15,915 18,667 28,691 23,362

Total received at AWMF 139,450 119,870 132,702 159,404 130,783 129,874 114,611 123,950 115,892 103,299

Cover material 21,833 648 12,270 32,036 23,015 29,433 14,844 18,341 12,680 8,122

Green waste diverted2 8,144 7,4 59 6,057 9,839 7,597 8,143 4,594 6,873 8,608 22,219

Inert diverted 1,927 1,378 1,242 1,217 1,050 727 725 599 642 580

Total landfilled at AWMF 107,546 110,385 113,134 116,311 99,121 91,570 94,447 98,137 93,963 72,378

MSW landfilled at other facilities 10,885

Total waste landfilled 107,546 110,385 113,134 116,311 99,121 91,570 94,447 98,137 93,963 83,263

Kerbside dry recycling 16,600 17,000 17,6 50 18,110 17,6 4 5 17,8 42 18,690 17,599 17,514 19,596

Kerbside green waste3 3,905 18,513

Total waste recovered 26,671 25,837 24,949 29,166 26,292 26,712 24,009 25,071 26,764 42,395

Total waste generated 134,217 136,222 138,083 145,477 125,413 118,282 118,456 123,208 120,727 125,658

1 A reclassification of C&I and C&D codes occurred between 2011-12 and 2012-13 2 Includes kerbside green waste and self-hauled green waste 3 Service commenced 1 April 2013 – part year only

Figure 3: Proportion of different waste streams entering the Awaba Waste Management Facility 2007-08 to 2013-14 (MSW, C&I, C&D) (note: C&I reclassification in 2012-13, diversion of MSW to Summerhill commenced in 2013-14)

12 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Waste composition waste that could be composted including recyclable paper, e-waste (unrecyclable cardboard, paper). and metals (18 per cent). Awaba Waste Management Facility This means over 30 per cent of A further 33 per cent has the waste self-hauled by residents to potential for future recovery or In 2013-14 103,299 tonnes of Awaba Waste Management Facility reprocessing via a transfer station material were presented at Awaba is potentially compostable waste (untreated timber, carpet, furniture for disposal or reprocessing. Waste that need not be landfilled. The etc). The residual portion with audits of self-hauled (MSW, C&I other major fractions of material to no currently feasible method for and C&D) material delivered to the Awaba Waste Management Facility recovery makes up the remaining Awaba Waste Management Facility by householders is recoverable 19 per cent. in 2010 and residential bin audits for 2013 indicated that a large proportion of material sent to landfill is potentially recoverable (Figure 4). Nearly 20,500 tonnes of food and garden waste currently presented at the Awaba Waste Management Facility could be processed into a useful compost product. This represents about 16,000 tonnes from kerbside garbage bin collections and 4,500 tonnes from self-hauled waste. About 22,000 tonnes of garden waste from kerbside collections, bulk waste collections and self-hauled waste is currently recovered for beneficial reuse as landscaping and soil amelioration products.

Self-hauled MSW (Figure 5) Figure 4: Composition of waste received at the Awaba Waste Management Facility in 2013-14 contained 21 per cent garden waste and 5 per cent kitchen waste. A further 4 per cent was organic

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 13 Waste from C&I activities represents about 3 per cent of waste received at the Awaba Waste Management Facility. A very high proportion (35 per cent) of C&I waste to landfill is organic in nature; 29 per cent is food and kitchen wastes (e.g. collections from restaurants, food retailers, supermarkets etc) and a further 6 per cent is vegetation and garden waste (Figure 6). Other potentially compostable components make up about 15 per cent of this waste stream (paper, cardboard). About 23 per cent of waste received at the Awaba Waste Management Facility is derived from the C&D sector. This stream is mostly building Figure 5: Self-hauled waste sent to the Awaba Waste Management Facility in 2010 materials (Figure 7), most of which is potentially recoverable.

Figure 6: Commercial and industrial waste sent to the Awaba Waste Management Facility in 2010

14 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Kerbside domestic waste from single unit dwellings As indicated in Figure 3, the majority of material received at the Awaba Waste Management Facility is MSW waste, collected at kerbside. Audits of the kerbside domestic waste service show that there is still a substantial amount of recoverable resources in the garbage bin (Figure 8), but that contamination in the recycling and green bins is very low.

Figure 5: Self-hauled waste sent to the Awaba Waste Management Facility in 2010 Figure 7: Construction and demolition waste composition (excluding cover material) in 2010

Figure 8: Composition of kerbside garbage waste bins for single unit dwellings in 2013

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 15 Waste collected during biannual domestic kerbside bulk waste collections contained 14 per cent garden waste, with a further 10- 12 per cent compostable organic wastes (paper, cardboard, kitchen wastes). Other wastes collected from the kerbside include plastics (9 per cent), painted wood and furniture (9 per cent), rocks/dirt (6 per cent), electrical items (7 per cent), mattresses (5 per cent) and computers/office equipment (5 per cent) (Figure 9).

Figure 9: Biannual kerbside domestic bulk waste composition in 2010

Waste from multi unit dwellings MUDs generate 4.55 per cent of the total domestic waste stream. Audits found that although MUDs generate significantly less mass of waste per household (44.0 per cent of the SUD mass), the composition of waste is quite similar (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Waste composition of MUDs (multi unit dwellings) compared to SUDs (single unit dwellings) in 2013

16 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Commercial waste In October 2014 an audit of commercial properties that have a Council garbage collection service was undertaken. The primary purpose was to identify resources that could be recovered from properties that do not currently have a Council green or recycling service. The results show that there is a large portion of recoverable resources in the commercial garbage waste stream, with an average of 19 per cent food waste and 41 per cent dry recyclables presented (Figure 11).

Figure 11: Composition of commercial garbage bins in 2014 Figure 9: Biannual kerbside domestic bulk waste composition in 2010

Council’s waste In addition to waste from its facilities, Council is committed to reducing its Council generates substantial own use of resources and generation waste from its construction and of waste. In October 2013 Council maintenance activities. This waste commissioned a “snapshot” audit is managed to maximise resource of six facility types (two operational recovery and reuse. buildings (Customer Service Centre Due to the history of land and Works Depot) and four public contamination across the City, facilities (caravan park, multipurpose particularly black slag from the centre, library and pool) (Figures former Pasminco lead smelter, the 12a-f). Analysis of waste from management of lead-contaminated these facilities indicates room for soil is a key constraint to Council’s improvement in utilising available construction works program. resource recovery services and has Management of lead-contaminated prompted staff engagement efforts soil in the City is also an issue for to increase uptake of recycling and the building and construction sector, organics recovery opportunities. more generally.

Figure 12: Composition of waste from six Council facilities in 2013

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 17 Customer Service Centre Depot

Caravan Park Multipurpose Centre / Library

Library Pool

Food Other Compostable Organics Garden Organics MGB Recyclable Potentially Recyclable Residual

Figure 12: Composition of waste from six Council facilities in 2013

18 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Analysis of waste collection and processing technology options

As part of development of the Draft existing garbage disposal (Awaba Waste Strategy in 2010, Council Waste Management Facility) and examined 10 potential technology recycling sorting (Gateshead Material options (Table 3). These options Recovery Facility) technologies (see were assessed against a set of pages 25 and 26 for further details). triple bottom line weightings, and Option 3 (3-bin source separated collections, with phased introduction of garden and then food waste, and in vessel organics composting) was selected as the preferred technology. This option retained the

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 19 Table 3: 10 potential technology solutions for the City’s kerbside waste

No. Waste Treatment Option Bin Configuration Description

1 3 Bin Source Separated Green Green garden waste only (i.e. excluding food waste) collected in a third Waste – Windrow Composting bin and composted in open windrows.

2 3 Bin Source Separated Green and food waste collected in a third bin and composted in Organics - In-vessel enclosed tunnels. Composting

3 Phased 3 Bin Source Green and food waste collected in a third bin and composted in Separated Organics – In-vessel enclosed tunnels. Same end situation as option 2, but staged so that Composting the third bin collection starts out with garden waste only, composted in open windrows (same as option 1). When Council chooses (+3 years used for analysis), food waste collection in the third bin commences and composting occurs in enclosed tunnels.

4 3 Bin Source Separated Green and food waste collected in a third bin and composted without Organics – Anaerobic Digestion oxygen, anaerobic digestion. Methane produced, captured and burnt for energy.

5 2 Bin Landfill Mixed waste collected (red lidded bin) and deposited directly in landfill. Same as current waste system.

6 2 Bin bioreactor Mixed waste collected (red lidded bin) and deposited directly into a land fill specially designed to accelerate and maximise methane generation while maximising methane capture. Methane burnt for energy.

7 2 Bin In-vessel composting Mixed waste collected (red lidded bin) and composted in enclosed tunnels.

8 2 Bin In-vessel composting Mixed waste collected (red lidded bin), transferred to the Port Stephens (Port Stephens) composter at Raymond Terrace for processing in a drum composter followed by enclosed windrow composting.

9 2 Bin In-vessel composting Mixed waste collected (red lidded bin), transferred to the Port Stephens (Port Stephens) plus Energy composter at Raymond Terrace for processing in a drum composter from Waste followed by enclosed windrow composting. Additionally, energy is generated from Biogas and/or reject material at the facility, hence energy from waste. The energy component is a proposed future addition to the Port Stephens facility.

Yellow bin In all options, yellow lidded, recyclables bin continues to be serviced by Hunter Resource Recovery.

Red bin In options with three bins, the red lidded bin collection is taken to land fill. In the two bin options, the red lidded bin collection is processed (options 7, 8, 9, and 10) or landfilled (options 5 and 6). Key Green bin The options shown with a green bin are all three bin options and incorporate source separation of part, or all, household waste. Each description above describes the role the green bin takes in each individual circumstance.

20 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Current waste services

Council offers a range of cost- Table 4: Waste packages available for multi unit dwelling complexes effective, convenient and Garbage bins Recycling bins Green bins Packages environmentally responsible waste per unit per unit per unit management services. These Standard 1 x 240 litre 1 x 240 litre 1 x 240 litre services are available for domestic and commercial customers. Upsize 1 x 240 litre 1 x 360 litre 1 x 240 litre Downsize 1 x 140 litre 1 x 140 litre 1 x 140 litre Domestic waste One 240 litre One 240 litre One 240 litre Shared standard services between two units between two units between two units One 240 litre One 360 litre One 240 litre Domestic waste is managed Shared upsize broadly via: between two units between two units between two units • Kerbside collections; Note: there are also 660 litre and 1,100 packages available, but there has been zero uptake to date • Permanent drop-off facilities; and • Periodic special events waste collection staff, while the recycling for their lower waste generation, collection. and green waste services are as well as space constraints for bin provided by Council contractors, storage and kerbside presentation. Hunter Resource Recovery and Solo Biannual bulk waste collections Kerbside collections Resources, respectively. allow residents to dispose of large Council currently provides the The contract term for the Hunter items (up to 2 m3 each collection). following kerbside collection Resource Recovery recycling E-waste, mattresses and metals services: collection service is to 30 June collected through this service are • Weekly garbage bin; 2023. The contract term for the recycled. Garden waste is processed • Fortnightly recycling bin; Solo green waste collection is to 31 into mulch by Council’s green waste March 2022, with an option for two processing contractor at the Awaba • Fortnightly green waste bin; and nine-year extensions. Garden Waste Processing Facility. • Biannual kerbside collection Kerbside bin size for single unit Residual bulk waste is sent to the of bulk waste including green dwellings is typically 240 litre for Awaba Waste Management Facility waste, e-waste, mattresses and each service, although Council also for landfilling. metals. offers a 360 litre recycling bin. The garbage and bulk waste MUDs are offered a range of services are provided by Council’s servicing packages (Table 4) to cater

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 21 Periodic and permanent special Chemistworks, Cardiff Chemist, Public place waste drop-off events Guardian Pharmacy Warners waste services Chemical CleanOut is the only Bay, Pharmacy Morisset regular periodic special waste drop- Priceline, Swansea Discount Council currently services off event currently offered in the City. Drug Store and Caves Beach approximately 1,500 mobile garbage This event is held twice each year, Pharmacy), the Salvation and recycling bins that are located in usually at Glendale TAFE. Materials Army at Bolton Point, Belmont Council’s open spaces and shopping accepted at the event are: Hospital and Toronto Polyclinic; districts. Most of these bins are Sharps are also able to be safely serviced twice weekly. While some of • Solvents and household disposed of in purpose built them have vandal-proof enclosures, cleaners; containers in most public toilets; most are on bin stands. • Floor care products; • Household quantities of waste Council has also recently trialled • Ammonia based cleaners; motor oil is collected at Council’s paired public place garbage and • Fluorescent globes and tubes; depot, Creek Reserve Road, recycling stations at three of its • Car batteries; Boolaroo; and swimming pools (Charlestown, Speers Point and Swansea). Each • Motor oils, fuels and fluids; • Mobile phone and accessories are collected through libraries station consists of one recycling • Paint and paint related products; (Charlestown, Swansea, Toronto, and one garbage bin each with • Pesticides and herbicides; Morisset, Cardiff, Belmont and a distinctive bin lid to encourage • Poisons; Wangi Wangi) and at Council’s separation of wastes. Due to high demand, Speers Point pool recycling • Gas bottles; Administrative Centre, Main Road, Speers Point. They are collections take place weekly, • Fire extinguishers; then sent to MobileMuster for while the remaining two pools have • Pool chemicals; reprocessing. fortnightly collections. It is envisaged • Hobby chemicals; and that the lessons learned from implementing this trial will assist in • Acids and alkalis. Commercial, industrial, the rolling out of recycling bins to In addition to this periodic drop-off other Council facilities. service, Council supports a number construction and of permanent special waste drop off demolition waste points for household quantities of the School waste services following materials: services • Problem household wastes Council offers a kerbside garbage All of the City’s 91 schools have including car batteries, paints, collection service to all non- access to Council’s commercial oils, polystyrene, light globes, residential premises, as well as waste services. Depending on household batteries, motor oil, recycling and garden waste on an the number of students enrolled, smoke detectors, e-waste, fire opt-in basis. Garbage bin sizes Council’s recycling contractor also extinguishers, and gas bottles range from 240 litre to 1,100 litre. provides a minimum of three 240 are collected at the Community A 1.5 and 3 cubic metre bin is also litre recycling bins free of charge to Recycling Centre at the Awaba available for recycling and green encourage recycling in the school Waste Management Facility; waste services. Commercial services can be serviced up to twice per grounds and foster waste awareness • Problem household wastes week. among students. Other services are (excluding liquids and car available for a fee. batteries) are collected through Commercial tenants and ratepayers Council’s four largest libraries also have access to a range of (Charlestown, Swansea, Toronto, private waste services, as well as the Belmont and Morisset ) and Awaba Waste Management Facility. Administration Centre, Main Road, Speers Point; • Sharps are collected at six pharmacies (Charlestown Pharmacy, Glendale

22 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Illegal dumping • Deter and educate the to clean up public places at any community in relation to illegal time. This program operates similarly compliance services dumping. to Clean Up Australia Day, but with Council’s illegal dumping program higher level of Council support as consists of three elements: Community there is no involvement with the • Deterrence works; engagement and national Clean Up Australia Day organisation. The EPA currently also • Community engagement; and support services provides a Waste Levy exemption for • Compliance. Council is committed to working disposal of this waste to landfill. Council is responsible for responding with local people to encourage to illegal dumping that occurs on them to take personal responsibility 3. Super Street Sales public (Council) land. for minimising waste generation The Super Street Sale Program Council hosts the Hunter-Central and the impacts of waste on the assists residents to hold garage Coast Regional Illegal Dumping environment. Specific programs that sales in their street to enable reuse (RID) Squad, which is a partnership Council delivers include: of their unwanted goods. In a similar manner to the Eco Angel Program, among 10 local councils (Lake 1. Clean Up Australia Day Macquarie, Cessnock, Wyong, Council developed Super Street Sales Gosford, Newcastle, Maitland, Council promotes and supports the following introduction of the national Singleton, Muswellbrook, Upper regular annual volunteer Clean Up Garage Sale Trail initiative, to support Hunter, Dungog) and the NSW Australia Day event. This support Lake Macquarie residents to hold Environment Protection Authority. includes promotion of the event, garage sales throughout the year. logistics support for volunteers, Council provides promotion and The RID Squad operates across collection and recycling/disposal of support to households wishing to local government boundaries to: collected waste. The EPA provides a participate in the program, and • Encourage a strategic, Waste Levy exemption for disposal encourages those households to coordinated approach to illegal of this waste to landfill. hold their events prior to their twice- dumping; 2. Eco Angel Program yearly bulk waste collection in order • Investigate illegal dumping to reduce the amount of materials Due to the outstanding support incidents and take action against collected for recycling/disposal. offenders; for Clean Up Australia Day in Lake • Track down illegal landfills; Macquarie City, Council developed a program to enable local volunteers • Identify changes and trends in illegal dumping across a regional area; and

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 23 4. Community gardening Community gardening can help to reduce food waste by both providing a ready source of fruit and vegetables, which can help reduce food wastage and minimise packaging, and creating demand for compost and mulch. Council supports community gardening across the City through a number of avenues: • A demonstration facility is available at Council’s Landcare Resource Centre, Teralba; • Community land can be made available for community gardening activities; and • Council officers provide advice and support to a network of community gardeners across the City.

5. Community waste education Council runs a range of workshops on gardening, home composting, worm farming, backyard chickens, food waste avoidance etc. Many of these workshops are held at Council’s demonstration facility at the Landcare Resource Centre, Teralba.

6. Waste education in schools Council runs a regular program of workshops in schools to support students and teachers to learn good waste management practices. Recycling workshops are also provided by Hunter Resource Recovery.

7. Environmental sustainability grants Grants of up to $3,000 are available The information is also available been installed at Council’s depot. to school and community groups to on Council’s website. Information Feedback is sought from staff to deliver environmental sustainability about bin collection days is available continue to improve the system and projects. Many of these projects through the my.lakemac.com.au to ensure that contamination rates are waste related, such as binless website.’ remain low. schools, composting facilities, community gardens etc. 10. Internal Council engagement 11. Natural disaster waste activities management 8. Fridge Buyback Council has implemented a 3-bin Council plays an important role The NSW Government’s Fridge waste system with source separation in natural disaster recovery by Buyback scheme, which supports for general waste, recycling and delivering special services to deal residents to dispose of their second food waste in the lunch-room with post-disaster waste. This fridge, is also available in the City. and the café bars throughout its may include additional bulk waste Administration building. These waste pickups, reduced waste disposal 9. Waste services guide hubs, the removal of individual desk charges for material affected by This easy-to-use flip-booklet tidies, internal staff engagement storm, flood or fire, and in some details all Council’s waste services and bin signage led to significant cases free waste disposal services. and provides a kerbside bin economic and environmental savings collection calendar. It is delivered for Council. Separate waste and to all households once a year. recycling bins have subsequently

24 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Current waste facilities

Awaba Waste Summerhill and Awaba Garden Waste Management Facility Buttonderry Waste Processing Facility Council operates a licensed solid Facilities REMONDIS operates a garden waste landfill on the western side waste processing facility at the Due to the limited life of the Awaba of Lake Macquarie, off Wilton Awaba Waste Management Facility. Waste Management Facility, Council Road, Awaba. The Awaba Waste This operation processes garden has entered into contracts with Management Facility is open to Lake waste collected through Council’s Newcastle City Council to the north Macquarie City residents for waste kerbside green bin service, bulk and Wyong Shire Council to the disposal. The site’s Environment kerbside collections, and self-hauled south to transport garbage to the Protection Licence permits waste green waste to the site. Summerhill and Buttonderry waste defined as Solid Waste Class 1 to be facilities, respectively. received at the site. Waste arrives at the landfill from Gateshead Materials a variety of sources, including Council collection vehicles, waste Awaba Community Recovery Facility collection contractors, and self- Recycling Centre Dry recyclables collected from the kerbside recycling service are haulage by businesses and In April 2014, Council converted its sorted at Solo Resource Recovery’s residents. Upon entering the Awaba former Reuse Centre at the Awaba Gateshead Material Recovery Waste Management Facility, the Waste Management Facility into Facility. This facility also sorts waste is classified and charged the Awaba Community Recycling material from the Port Stephens, in accordance with the following Centre. This facility accepts the Cessnock, Singleton, Maitland and categories: following items in household Newcastle local government areas. • mixed waste; quantities, free of charge: The facility was upgraded in 2013, • clean fill; • paint - oil and water-based; and now has a processing capacity • organic garden waste; • gas cylinders; of 100,000 tonnes per annum. • household recyclables; • fire extinguishers; Recovered materials are • special wastes eg. asbestos; and • electronic waste; sorted into: • mattresses. • fluorescent light globes • paper and cardboard; The above waste categories incur and tubes; • metals (tin, steel and aluminium); varying fees in accordance with • car batteries; • plastics (PET, HDPE, mixed differing environmental safeguards • household batteries; plastics); and applicable to their management • polystyrene; • glass (green, brown, clear and onsite. A range of domestic glass fines). quantities of source separated • motor oils; household dry recyclables and • other oils; Once sorted, these materials are problem wastes are accepted free • smoke detectors; and sent on to processing facilities of charge through the Community outside the Hunter region. Residual • dry recyclables. Recycling Centre (see below). waste is sent to landfill. As of December 2014, the Awaba Waste Management Facility had approximately three years of remaining landfill capacity.

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 25 E-waste and metals Problem and • oily rags, filters, coolants; processing facilities hazardous waste • oily sludges; • oily water; E-waste collected from biannual processing facilities kerbside collections and the Awaba • septic waste; There are no facilities in Lake Waste Management Facility is Macquarie City for the processing • solvents; transported to a local e-waste of problem and hazardous wastes, • trade waste; processing facility for dismantling, including waste soil contaminated by • triple interceptors; sorting and recycling. the activities of the former Pasminco • used cooking oil; Scrap metals collected from these lead smelter. collections are initially stored and • wash water; and The following materials are able to pre-sorted at the Awaba Waste be received at Transpacific’s facilities • waste oil. Management Facility and then at Kooragang Island, in the City of A number of private operators collect collected by a local metal recycler. Newcastle, or Rutherford, in the City problem and hazardous wastes in Waste oil collection of Maitland: the area and send them to various • acid waste; facilities in Sydney and interstate for A facility for collection of household processing and/or disposal. quantities of used oil is available at • caustic waste; Council’s depot. • contaminated storm water; • grease trap waste;

26 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Future waste facilities

Expansion of the Materials processing Awaba Waste capability Management Facility Council supports the expansion of regional capacity to process Council has project approval under materials recovered from the waste Part 3A of the Environmental stream. Initiatives to develop this Planning and Assessment Act capacity are described in the draft 1979 for an expansion of the Hunter Region WARR Strategy. Awaba Waste Management Facility to accommodate the City’s future residual waste disposal requirements. Community This expansion includes a number Recycling Centre of new landfill cells, upgraded Council is investigating the feasibility weighbridge and amenity of a second Community Recycling infrastructure, a new transfer Centre on the eastern side of the station and a new community lake to increase service accessibility recycling centre. for residents in coastal suburbs. This expansion will provide approximately 25 years of additional capacity at current landfilling Waste to energy rates. This lifespan is likely to be Council remains open to the considerably extended by proposed Council intends to introduce food prospect of using a waste to energy resource recovery activities. waste to the kerbside green waste (WtE) facility for the disposal of bin service around July 2016. At residual waste that would otherwise this time, the garbage bin, which is have been sent to landfill. At this currently collected weekly, will be Expansion of organics stage, there is one proposal to collected fortnightly. The green develop a WtE facility in the lower collection and bin, which will contain most Hunter. Omega Energy is in the odorous waste material, will be processing capability process of preparing a development collected weekly. Council is currently preparing for the application for a graphite plasma introduction of food organics into the This service will be available arc gasification plant at the Hunter kerbside green waste bin. to domestic and commercial Industrial Ecology Park, Weston. customers. Self-hauled material, Development consent has been Should this facility become excluding biosolids and liquid waste, granted for the construction of a operational, with a price point for will also be accepted at the facility. 30,000 tonne per annum tunnel and disposal that is competitive with windrow composting facility adjacent It is likely that generation of food landfill, Council will conduct more to the Awaba Waste Management and garden waste from the City will detailed analysis of this option. Facility. The Awaba Green Waste reach the approved capacity of the Council’s threshold for risk-free use Processing Facility, to be owned Awaba Green Waste Processing of waste to energy technology is and operated by REMONDIS, is Facility within the first 12 months a minimum of three years stable scheduled to be completed by of operation. It will be necessary to operation. May 2016. The contract term for expand the facility to meet the City’s REMONDIS to provide organics requirements. processing services to Council is 18 Council supports use of the Awaba years from the commencement of Green Waste Processing Facility to Phase 2 operations. At this stage, process organics from elsewhere in the likely contract expiry date is the Hunter, providing that Council’s around May 2034. requirements are met.

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 27 Future waste services

Waste avoidance Strategies to avoid and to another activity). This approach is reduce waste generation and supported by the WARR Strategy, and reduction reuse waste which identifies recycling as the key How is waste generation Council intends to continue to strategy to divert waste from landfill. determined? support activities that avoid and The target for diversion of waste Waste generation may be reduce the amount of waste that from landfill is a 75 per cent considered to be the sum of is generated within the City and reduction in per capita waste to all material discarded from a encourage the reuse of waste. landfill for the City by 2023, relative premise. This includes material Specific strategies include: to a 2007-08 baseline of 616 kg that is sent to landfill and material • support for industrial ecology per capita. that is either reused, recycled or initiatives across the Hunter, The target for recycling is to recover used to generate energy. Council where relevant to Lake 75 per cent of material presented at cannot determine the total waste Macquarie business interests; the kerb of domestic premises by generated by Lake Macquarie • advocacy for reduction in waste 2023, relative to a 2007-08 baseline City, as it has no mechanism generated across the supply of 18 per cent. to track waste generated from chain of goods and services As mentioned above, it is not commercial, industrial, construction used in the City; possible for Council to determine and demolition activities that is not C&I and C&D diversion percentages, managed through a Council service. • community education and as data are unavailable for the Council can, however, track the support to avoid the generation amount of waste generated from amount of waste received at its of waste (eg. food waste these sources. Council will review waste facilities within the City. avoidance, lifecycle assessment of goods and services etc); and targets for these waste streams In Lake Macquarie City, waste if and when further data become • community education about generation is defined as the sum of available. material received at these facilities reuse options available across (Awaba Waste Management Facility, the City and support to access Strategies to recycle and Awaba Green Waste Processing those options (eg. Super Street divert waste from landfill Sales, directories of second hand Facility, Gateshead Materials Audits of domestic and commercial dealers and charities, upcycling Recovery Facility). kerbside garbage bins (Figures 7 and activities etc). As Council is unable to quantify the 10) indicate that there are substantial amount of waste material from one Specific actions for 2015-16 quantities of recoverable resources, premises that is reused at another are described in Section 1 of both organic and dry recyclables, premise, reuse strategies are Appendix 1. that could be recovered from the included under this section on Waste garbage stream. Avoidance and Reduction. Specific actions for 2015-16 Council will review the definition Increased recycling are described in Section 2 of of waste generation if, and when, and diversion of waste Appendix 1. further data become available. In the meantime, Council will advocate from landfill Organics for the NSW EPA to provide Recycling is defined as material that The key strategy to recover organics improved data on the generation of enters the waste collection system from the waste streams sent to commercial, industrial, construction and is not sent to landfill. In Lake landfill is to introduce food waste to and demolition waste. Macquarie City there is no practical the kerbside green waste collection Council’s target for waste avoidance, difference between material that is service. This is contingent on waste reduction and waste reuse is recycled (ie waste from one activity construction of the Awaba Green a 10 per cent per capita reduction is used as an input to another) and Waste Processing Facility (see in total waste generation by 2023, material that is diverted from landfill page 25), which is scheduled for compared to a 2007-08 baseline. (ie material that arrives at the landfill completion in 2016. The indicative and is able to be recovered for input commencement date for kerbside

28 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 food waste collection is 1 July 2016. Mattresses Managing problem The service will be available to both The strategy to recover resources wastes domestic and commercial premises; from mattresses is to offer a however, with opt-in arrangements recycling service. Mattresses will Problem wastes may be defined as for commercial premises, uptake is continue to be collected via the those wastes that are not able to likely to be low (estimated at 5 per kerbside bulk waste service and be recovered for beneficial reuse. cent). at the Awaba Waste Management These may include materials that Facility. must be sent to landfill, or those that Dry recyclables are problematic in the garbage and Strategies to recover dry recyclables Minor recycling streams recycling collection and processing from the garbage stream include: There is a range of other minor systems due to their potential to • promoting the uptake of recycling waste streams that are able to harm human health and/or the bins by commercial premises; be recycled through specialist environment. These materials may be recyclable with special processing • promoting the uptake of 360 services. These include light bulbs, techniques or require disposal at a litre recycling bins to domestic batteries, gas bottles, extruded licensed waste facility. households; polystyrene, paints, smoke detectors. These materials will Problem household wastes are • advocating for extended continue to be collected via the managed with EPA funding, which producer responsibility schemes; Community Recycling Centre at the is committed until June 2017 for • promoting consumption of goods Awaba Waste Management Facility. the current Community Recycling that include recycled content Lake Macquarie libraries and the Centre and Chemical CleanOut and/or are recyclable; Administrative Centre will continue to drop-off events. • supporting development of receive some of these materials The target for managing problem improved materials recovery (see page 22). wastes in Lake Macquarie City is facilities within the City and the that these wastes are appropriately Emerging recycling technologies region; and managed. • educating the community about Council is committed to keeping what can be recycled and where abreast of emerging recycling Strategies to manage problem it can be recycled. technologies and opportunities as wastes they arise, with a view to enhancing Key strategies to manage problem Electronic waste the current range of services if wastes include: assessed to be financially and Strategies to recover e-waste from • effective management of the practically beneficial for the City. the garbage stream include: Awaba Waste Management An example of this is the potential • providing biannual domestic Facility; for disposable nappy recycling kerbside collections; service in NSW, which Council has • appropriate drop off facilities for • providing permanent drop off indicated it is willing to trial. Council problem household wastes; centres at libraries and the previously part-funded a compost • community education about Awaba Waste Management trial of nappies, which demonstrated appropriate methods of disposal; Facility; contemporary composting • advocating for extended • participating in the Computer and techniques could not cost-effectively producer responsibility; and Television Product Stewardship manage such waste. • establishment of a second CRC Scheme; and on the east side of the lake, if • educating the community about possible. e-waste recycling services. Specific actions for 2015-16 are described in Section 3 of Appendix 1.

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 29 Reducing litter Reducing illegal Participation in Litter is defined as waste in the dumping regional activities environment that is not transported Illegal dumping is defined as the Council has identified that the by a vehicle. The WARR Strategy transportation of waste to an following elements of the Regional identifies common types of litter unlicensed location by vehicle. Waste Strategy are particularly as “cigarette butts, small pieces relevant to Lake Macquarie City: of paper, chip and confectionery The target for the City is to wrappers, fast-food packaging, contribute to a 30 per cent reduction • waste avoidance, reduction, bottle caps, plastic straws, broken in the incidence of illegal dumping in reuse and recycling engagement glass, drink containers and the Hunter by 30 June 17. campaigns, where relevant to the plastic bags.” City; Strategies to reduce illegal • advocating for extended Council aims to support the NSW dumping Government’s state-wide litter producer responsibility, The key strategies to reduce illegal manufacturing standards, etc; reduction campaign and contribute dumping in the City include: to the WARR Strategy’s litter • expanding the range of materials reduction target (see Table 1). • participating in a strategic that can be collected for coordinated regional approach to recycling; Strategies to reduce litter illegal dumping; • maintaining community recycling Key strategies to reduce litter in Lake • investigating illegal dumping centres for problem household Macquarie City include: incidents and taking action waste; against offenders; • supporting volunteer efforts to • investigating opportunities to clean up public land through the • tracking down illegal landfills; process waste via alternative national Clean Up Australia Day • identifying changes and trends in treatment methods, such as program and Council’s Eco Angel illegal dumping across the City; waste to energy; program; and • investigating opportunities • supporting the EPA’s state-wide • deterring and educating the for shared waste processing litter campaign; community in relation to illegal facilities; • compliance activity undertaken dumping. • supporting industrial ecology by Council Rangers; and Specific actions for 2015-16 opportunities, where beneficial to • promoting sustainable events on are described in Section 5 of the City; and Council land. Appendix 1. • hosting the Hunter/Central Coast Specific actions for 2015-16 RID Squad until 30 June 2017 are described in Section 4 of and supporting its continuation Appendix 1. thereafter.

30 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Review

The strategy forms part of an integrated framework of planning documents that guide Council’s activities in Lake Macquarie City. The Lake Macquarie planning and reporting framework provides for long-term strategic direction through the City’s 10 Year Community Plan and Environmental Action Plan, and Council’s four year Delivery Program and annual Operational Plan. This Strategy will be reviewed, and updated as necessary, in 2017 concurrently with the creation of Council’s new four year Delivery Program 2018-2023. Amendments to the Strategy will also inform four-yearly updates to the Lake Macquarie City Environmental Sustainability Action Plan. An annual action plan will be developed each year, with priority actions included in Council’s Operational Plan.

Acronyms

AWMF Awaba Waste Management Facility NSW New South Wales BWRF Better Waste and Recycling Fund RID Regional Illegal Dumping C&D Construction and Demolition SUD Single unit dwelling C&I Commercial and Industrial SSG Source separated garden EPA Environment Protection Authority SSO Source separated organics HRR Hunter Resource Recovery TAFE Technical and Further Education LGA Local government area WARR Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery LMS Landfill Management Services WER Waste, Environment and Rangers MUD Multi unit dwelling WLRM Waste Less Recycle More MSW Municipal Solid Waste WtE Waste to Energy

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 31 Glossary

Construction and Solid waste sourced from construction and demolition works, including building and demolition waste, demolition waste asphalt waste and excavated natural material. (C&D waste)

Commercial and Solid waste generated by businesses, industries (including shopping centres, restaurants and offices) and industrial waste institutions (such as schools, hospitals and government offices) but not C&D waste or MSW. (C&I waste)

Diversion rate The proportion of all recycled materials or those otherwise recovered (through an energy-from-waste facility or composting organic waste) compared with total amount of waste generated.

Energy from waste The process of recovering energy from waste materials: the energy is used to produce usable heat, steam, electricity or a combination of these.

E-waste End-of-life electronic equipment, such as televisions, computers, mobile phones, stereos and small electrical appliances (but not white goods).

Green bin The green-lidded bin is for organic materials. These generally include weeds, grass clippings, flowers, leaves, prunings and small branches. The green bin may also be used for food waste depending on the facility where the materials are taken for processing and the availability of downstream markets for the processed materials.

Industrial ecology Using the by-products from the production process of one company as a resource in another.

Landfill The disposal of waste materials through burial.

Recycling bin The yellow-lidded recycling bin is for dry recyclable materials. These generally include paper, cardboard, glass, some hard plastics and ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The type of recyclable materials collected in the yellow lid bin can vary depending on the facility where the materials are taken for further separation and the availability of downstream markets for the materials.

Waste Includes (as defined by the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997): • any substance (whether solid, liquid or gaseous) that is discharged, emitted or deposited in the environment in such volume, constituency or manner as to cause an alteration in the environment, or • any discarded, rejected, unwanted, surplus or abandoned substance, or • any otherwise discarded, rejected, unwanted, surplus or abandoned substance intended for sale or for recycling, processing, recovery or purification by a separate operation from that which produced the substance, or • any processed, recycled, re-used or recovered substance produced wholly or partly from waste that is applied to land, or used as fuel, but only in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations, or • any substance prescribed by the regulations to be waste • a substance is not precluded from being waste for the purposes of the Act merely because it is or may be processed, recycled, re-used or recovered.

Waste avoidance Waste that does not enter the waste-management system.

Waste generation The total amount of waste disposed of to landfill and diverted (based on available data).

Waste management Waste materials from MSW, C&I and C&D sectors that are collected kerbside, recovered from the waste system stream for recycling or energy recovery or disposed to landfill.

32 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Appendix 1 Lake Macquarie Waste Management Action Plan 2015-2016

Section 1: Avoid and reduce waste generation and reuse waste Potential for regional Objective and target Action Detail of action Responsibility collaboration 1.1 Reduce the generation of 1A Continue to support Super Street Sales Sustainability Yes waste by changing behaviours program, including investigation of options to (LMCC) of community and businesses expand to regional program through community education, engagement and involvement. 1B Continue to support and promote community Sustainability Yes gardens and home composting (LMCC) Target: Reduce waste generation per capita 1C Continue to promote food waste avoidance Sustainability Yes consistently to achieve a 10 per (LMCC) cent reduction by June 2013, from a 2007-08 baseline

Section 2: Increased recycling and diversion of waste from landfill Potential Objective and target Action Detail of action Responsibility for regional collaboration 2.1 Increase the recovery of 2A Promote uptake of 360 litre recycling bins Sustainability Maybe recyclable resources from (LMCC) domestic premises 2B Renew mattress recycling contract Sustainability Yes Target: Recover 75 per cent (LMCC) of MSW by June 2023, from a 2C Participate in Hunter Resource Recovery Sustainability Yes 2007-08 baseline community engagement campaigns (LMCC) 2D Prepare for introduction of food waste to the Sustainability, No green bin, including change of bin collection WER, frequencies for garbage and green waste Communications (LMCC), Solo, REMONDIS 2E Continue to provide biannual bulk waste WER (LMCC) No collection service, for recovery of e-waste, metals, mattresses and green waste 2F Continue to provide free recyclables drop off Sustainability, No at the Awaba Waste Management Facility WER , Cultural (see Action 3A), Lake Macquarie libraries and Services (LMCC) Council’s Administration Building 2G Distribute waste services guide to all Sustainability Maybe households (LMCC) 2H Seek modification of consent to expand Awaba REMONDIS No Green Waste Processing Facility 2I Continue to maximise recovery of resources WER (LMCC) No from the tip face at the Awaba Waste Management Facility 2J Continue to collect domestic and commercial Hunter Resource No dry recyclables and garden waste Recovery, REMONDIS

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 33 Section 2: Increased recycling and diversion of waste from landfill Potential Objective and target Action Detail of action Responsibility for regional collaboration 2.2 Increase the recovery of 2K Increase uptake of recycling services at Sustainability Maybe recyclable resources from commercial premises (LMCC) commercial premises

Target: Divert 75 per cent of per 2L Continue to divert Council construction waste CiviLake No capita waste from landfill by June from landfill for beneficial reuse (LMCC) 2023, from a 2007-08 baseline

2M Roll out recycling bins to Council office facilities Sustainability, Maybe Facility Managers (LMCC) 2N Continue to capture and reuse landfill gas from WER (LMCC), No the Awaba Waste Management Facility LMS

2O Participate in regional efforts to support local Sustainability Yes business/industry to develop new markets for (LMCC) recycled products 2.3 Increase the recovery of energy 2P Maintain a watching brief on progress of Sustainability Maybe from waste Omega Energy’s planned facility at Weston (LMCC) Target: Divert 75 per cent of per capita waste from landfill by June 2023, from a 2007-08 baseline

Section 3: Managing problem wastes Potential Objective and target Action Detail of action Responsibility for regional collaboration 3.1 Ensure adequate community 3A Maintain Community Recycling Centre WER, No access to facilities that accept for problem household wastes and other Sustainability and manage problem wastes. recyclables (see Action 2F) (LMCC) 3B Hold at least one Chemical Cleanout for Sustainability Maybe Target: Divert 75 per cent of hazardous and problem household waste each (LMCC), EPA per capital waste from landfill year be June 2023, from a 2007-08 baseline 3C Promote appropriate methods of problem Sustainability Yes household waste disposal (LMCC) Target: Problem wastes are appropriately managed 3.2 Effectively manage the Awaba 3D Operate the Awaba Waste Management WER (LMCC) No Waste Management Facility. Facility in accordance with its Environment Protection Licence and community Target: Problem wastes are expectations appropriately managed 3E Continue to collect domestic and commercial WER (LMCC) No waste 3E Progress expansion of the Awaba Waste WER, General No Management Facility to provide long-term Manager’s landfill capacity for the City, in particular Secretariat connection to the sewer and upgrade of the (LMCC) Wangi/Wilton roads intersection. 3F Continue to transport waste to Buttonderry WER (LMCC) Maybe and Summerhill waste facilities to extend the life of the Awaba Waste Management Facility while extension works are in progress.

34 Waste Strategy 2015-2023 Section 4: Reducing litter Potential for regional Objective and target Action Detail of action Responsibility collaboration 4.1 Minimise the amount of litter in 4A Support NSW EPA’s statewide litter reduction Sustainability Yes the environment campaign (LMCC) Target: Contribute to NSW litter reduction campaign 4B Participate in regional baseline data gathering Sustainability Yes exercise to identify the extent of littering across (LMCC) Target: Contribute to WARR the region, Strategy litter reduction target 4C Continue to support Clean Up Australia Day Sustainability Yes (LMCC) 4D Continue to support the Eco Angel program Sustainability Maybe (LMCC)

Section 5: Reducing illegal dumping Potential for regional Objective and target Action Detail of action Responsibility collaboration 5.1 Minimise the social, 5A Continue to host the Hunter Central Coast Sustainability Yes environmental and economic Regional Illegal Dumping Squad (LMCC) impacts of illegal dumping. 5B Expand illegal dumping compliance messages RID Squad Yes through the RID Squad Target: Contribute to a reduction in illegal dumping incidents by 5C Continue to promote appropriate waste Sustainability Yes 30 per cent of the 2010-11 levels disposal options (LMCC) by 2016-17 5D Continue to roll out illegal dumping deterrence Sustainability Yes measures (LMCC) 5E Collaborate with Coastal Land Managers to Sustainability, No establish a permit system for 4WD access to Community Nine Mile Beach Planning (LMCC)

Section 6: Governance Potential for regional Objective and target Action Detail of action Responsibility collaboration 6.1 Effectively govern waste 6A Review and update Council waste management Sustainability, No management activities within procedures, and undertake activities in WER (LMCC) Council accordance with those procedures 6B Maintain strong communication between key Sustainability, No Council staff and the elected Council WER (LMCC) 6.2 Participation in regional waste 6C Participate in Regional Waste Strategy Sustainability Yes collaborations meetings, including the Hunter Waste (LMCC) Educators Group 6D Participate in Regional Illegal Dumping Squad Sustainability Yes Steering Committee (LMCC) 6E Participate in Hunter Resource Recovery Sustainability Yes meetings (LMCC) 6F Participate in regional Waste Management WER, Yes Association of Australia meetings Sustainability (LMCC)

Waste Strategy 2015-2023 35 City of Lake Macquarie Waste Strategy 2015-2023

Lake Macquarie City Council 126-138 Main Road, SPEERS POINT NSW 2284 Box 1906 Hunter Region Mail Centre NSW 2310 Tel: (02) 4921 0333 Fax: (02) 4921 0351 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lakemac.com.au

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