2015-08-24 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   24 AUGUST 2015




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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                                      24 AUGUST 2015

               RECOMMENDATIONS (How should Noosa minimise organic waste to landfill?)

               The Jury came to the conclusion that a centralised approach would be the most cost-effective way to
               achieve behavioural change that results in rapid and significant diversion of organic waste from
               landfill. The Jury unanimously agreed on nine recommendations, as described below:

               1.  Expand Noosa’s existing three-bin system in a staged manner to introduce
                   mandatory weekly collection of organics in all residential areas.
                   Mandatory collection of green waste to start in the 2015/16 financial
                   year, with collection of all organics to be introduced as soon as possible
                   thereafter. Rural areas should be exempted with the ability to opt-in.
               Noosa Council should expand its existing three-bin waste collection system as follows:

                   Mandatory green-topped bins
                   ¢   Make existing green-topped bins compulsory for all dwellings constructed or purchased in
                       Noosa’s urban areas before 2017 and ensure all major development applications include
                       plans for minimising organic waste to landfill.
                   ¢   Make green-topped bins compulsory for ALL Noosa residents in urban areas in 2015/16.

                   Green-topped bins to take ALL organics
                   ¢   Allow green-topped bins to take ALL organic matter, not only garden waste, as soon as
                       possible after the introduction of mandatory green waste collection .
                   ¢   Ensure the maximum amount of organic waste can be placed in green-topped bins including:
                       -   Fruit and vegetable scraps (including onion and citrus fruits)
                       -   Meat and fish (including bones and egg shells)
                       —   Pasta, cereals, bread and rice
                       -   Dairy products
                       -  Coffee grinds and tea bags
                       -  Soiled paper and cardboard (including tissues, paper towel and pizza boxes)
                       -  Animal droppings
                       -  Grass clippings and leaves
                       —   Pruned garden waste, twigs and small branches
                   ¢   Provide all residents who have a green-topped organics bin with a complimentary kitchen
                       caddy and an annual supply of biodegradable bags.
                   ¢   Encourage major supermarkets to stock biodegradable bags.

                   Monitor the need for general waste bins
                   Council should monitor the use of general waste bins. If the use of red-topped general waste bins
                   decreases so much that it becomes uneconomical, Council should phase out the general waste
                   collection service and move to a two-bin system (ie green-topped bins for organics and yellow-
                   topped bins for inorganic material). This is considered to be best practice in international waste
                   management.

               BENEFITS
               *   Reducing organic waste to landfill, answering the question put to the Jury
               ¢   Producing saleable products
               *   Reduces total greenhouse gas emissions in Noosa

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