FINAL WASTE PLAN 2023 - 2028 · Attachment 1: From Waste to Resource Waste Plan 2023-28

Message from
                                                           community we can make a positive difference to the           perfectly good items we no longer want or need, we
                                                           environment through lowered emissions.                       all have a part to play.


the Mayor                                                  Methane produced from the breakdown of organic
                                                           material in our landfill currently accounts for more
                                                           than 60% of Council’s overall emissions.
                                                                                                                        We’re fortunate to have an active and engaged
                                                                                                                        community in Noosa, one that supports waste
                                                                                                                        minimisation efforts and innovative waste
                                                                                                                        management solutions.
                                                           The key to lowering these emissions is in reducing the
                                                           volume of material winding up in our landfill in the first   As a community we’ve rallied before to improve our
                                                           place.                                                       waste outcomes and we can again. Our community
                                                                                                                        embraced the broad roll-out of the garden waste bin
                                                           Our From Waste to Resource Waste Plan 2023-2028              service in 2017, and this has helped divert a significant
                                                           is the roadmap to get us there – a Plan we’ve all            amount of organic waste from landfill. But there is
                                                           helped create.                                               more work to be done.

                                                           I thank you for taking the time to provide the input         Compostable organics, such as kitchen scraps,
                                                           that has ultimately shaped this important guiding            thrown into general waste bins, account for 40% of
                                                           document.                                                    the material we currently send to landfill, so over the
                                                                                                                        next five years this will be a major focus for Council.
                                                           You told us of your overwhelming support for the
                                                           Waste Hierarchy Principles that encourage avoidance          With programs such as the recent Give a Sheet for
                                                           of waste in the first place, reuse, recycling, the use of    the Planet® textile recycling day, and our investment
                                                           waste in the creation of energy, with landfill as a last     in a polystyrene thermal compaction unit as well as
                                                           resort.                                                      improvements to site operations, we’ve begun forging
                                                                                                                        important circular economy in-roads, and with this
                                                           These principles are all fundamental to this exciting        waste management plan we continue that exciting
                                                           new blueprint.                                               journey.
I’m pleased to present our From Waste to Resource
Waste Plan 2023-2028.                                      You also told us you felt strongly that we must all take     The From Waste to Resource Waste Plan 2023-
                                                           personal responsibility for minimising waste, along          2028 ensures our waste operations are sufficiently
This document, shaped with extensive input from            with advocating to reduce waste at the source, and           versatile and flexible to allow us to quickly adapt to
you, our community, will ensure we keep pace with          this will be an important ingredient in the success of       the new technologies constantly emerging to improve
the rapid changes affecting the waste management           this Plan.                                                   recycling and divert more waste from landfill. It will
industry.                                                                                                               also ensure we rise to the challenge of meeting the
                                                           While waste management is a major part of Council’s          state’s ambitious local government recycling targets.
Importantly, it gives us a blueprint to achieve a marked   core business, minimising the waste we send to
reduction in the volume of material sent to landfill by    landfill is something we can’t do alone – it requires full   We look forward to delivering our waste goals in
expanding our recycling capabilities and exploring         community support.                                           partnership with our community over the next five years.
new and exciting re-use opportunities.
                                                           Whether it’s saying no to a bag next time you visit
Waste disposal and greenhouse gas emissions                the shops, starting a compost bin for kitchen scraps
go hand-in-hand so by reducing our waste as a              or donating to charity - rather than simply binning –


From Waste to Resource | Waste Plan 2023 - 2028                                                                                                                                   5