FINAL WASTE PLAN 2023 - 2028 · Report

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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING                                            10 OCTOBER 2023


Phase 2 consultation was aimed at gathering additional insights and perspectives on the Draft Waste
Plan itself.

A diverse array of communication channels, including print media, social media platforms, "Your
Say" site, radio broadcast, and physical displays at Council facilities (e.g. libraries, landfill, Council
administration building, Leisure Centre etc) were used to promote and facilitate engagement.

In total, 828 surveys were received over Phases 1 and 2. This figure encompasses 624 surveys
collected during Phase 1 consultation, focusing on community values, and an additional 204 surveys
in Phase 2 consultation, focusing on the Draft Waste Plan. The majority of survey respondents were
Noosa residents with a fairly even distribution of age groups represented.

2. Community Feedback on Draft Waste Plan
There is strong support for the Draft Waste Plan vision and for the waste hierarchy principles of
avoid, reduce, reuse, recycle, and as a last resort – dispose, to be the guiding principles of the Waste
Plan.

   •   “Well thought out Strategy. Good to see a solid Plan in place for changing the way we manage
       waste in Noosa” (Your Say respondent, Sept 2023).

A summary of survey responses relating to the vision and principles is detailed in Table 1 below:

Table 1: Support for the Draft Waste Plan vision and waste hierarchy principles

Question Summary                                                       Yes      No         Neither
                                                                                           support or
                                                                                           oppose
Support for the Draft Waste Plan vision                                63%      25%        12%

Support for the waste hierarchy (avoid, reuse, recycle and             68%      23%        9%
dispose as last resort) to be the guiding principles
of the Draft Waste Plan.

A summary of open-ended responses from respondents that opposed or strongly opposed both the
Draft Waste Plan vision and the waste hierarchy principles included:

   •   Concern about rate increases and waste fee charges.
   •   Request for bulk kerbside collection.
   •   Opposition to a food waste collection service as already composting or feeding food waste
       to poultry.
   •   Believe existing waste operations are working well and don’t want any changes.
   •   Oppose the United Nations and climate change science.
There is strong support for the Waste Plan actions to encourage personal responsibility for items
people no longer want or need, to advocate to reduce waste at the source and to be innovative in
litter prevention. There is also support for the Waste Plan actions to ensure that appropriate
infrastructure and operations are in place to support waste reuse and recycling and to minimise the
use of virgin materials to create new products as well as minimise the cost to the community of
landfilling materials that could be utlised as a resource with potential revenue generation.

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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING                                    10 OCTOBER 2023


Table 2: Waste Plan Actions - Importance

Importance of the Draft Waste Plan Very      Important Somewhat Not                   Not sure
to:                                Important           Important Important
Encourage personal responsibility for 45.5%    20.5%        13%          18%          3%
items people no
longer want or need.
Advocate to reduce waste at the        53%     22%          11%          13%          1%
source.
Be innovative in litter prevention.    53%     21%          14%          11%          1%
Ensure that appropriate infrastructure 59%     14%          10%          14%          3%
and operations
are in place to support waste reuse
and recycling.
Minimise the use of virgin materials   44%     22%          13%          18%          3%
to create new products.
Reduce the cost to the community of 54%        17%          12.5%        12.5%        4%
landfilling material
that could be utilized as a resource
with potential
revenue generation.

The survey included an open-ended question whereby respondents could provide any other
comments or feedback on the Draft Waste Plan. A total of 110 open-ended responses were
received.

A summary of comments included:
   •   Concerns about packaging and ensuring manufacturer responsibility (19% of comments).
   •   Request for bulk kerbside collection (15% of comments).
   •   The importance of recycling education and making recycling convenient (14% of comments).
   •   Opposition to food waste collection service (14% of comments).
   •   Support for food waste collection service (12% of comments).
   •   Concerns about costs to implement the Waste Plan (10% of comments).

Detailed analysis of the open-ended responses, including how the feedback is addressed in the
Waste Plan are contained in Attachment 2: Waste Survey (Aug-Sept 2023) - Summary of open-
ended responses.



3. Waste Plan Updates
The majority of comments about the Draft Waste Plan are already addressed through the actions in
the Plan. A summary of changes to the Waste Plan, as a result of community feedback, are detailed
in the table below.

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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING                                         10 OCTOBER 2023


Table 3: Updates to the Waste Plan

Updates to Waste Plan Actions
Theme 1: Waste Avoidance

Action 2.2 Advocacy (additional text in bold)

Promote product stewardship schemes and priority product lists so manufacturers are
responsible for the entire lifecycle of products. Refer Attachment 3: Product Stewardship
Scheme and Priority Product list.

Theme 2: Waste Reuse & Recycling

New action 1.4 Food Waste

Conduct education and consultation on the environmental benefits and expanded waste
processing capabilities of a food waste collection service e.g. a food waste collection service can
process items that are unable to go in a home composter such as meat (cooked and raw), dairy
products, seafood, and compostable coffee cups and take away containers.

Theme 2: Waste Reuse & Recycling

New action Item 4: Construction and Demolition Waste

4.1 Promote the establishment of material exchange platforms where construction companies can
share surplus or unused building materials.
4.2 Continue to divert Council construction waste from landfill for reuse and investigate new waste
streams to divert.
4.3 Audit material make-up of construction and demolition skip bins and identify opportunities for
reuse and recycling.

There were also editing and design changes to better align with the new Council branding and to
create a document in keeping with the design of the Noosa Corporate Plan.

3. Next Steps
The Plan is intricately connected to our infrastructure, serving as a crucial element in our transition
towards a circular economy. Identifying treatment options that align with this vision necessitates a
spirit of collaboration, a fundamental action embedded within the plan. Our Council's decision-
making framework for waste strategy is characterized by a collaborative and structured approach,
where all projects and initiatives are integrated into our annual budgeting process. Given Noosa's
membership in the Council of Mayors South East Queensland (COMSEQ), we have a direct pathway
for potential funding, especially for infrastructure projects in alignment with the South East
Queensland Waste Plan. However, for projects that fall outside this scope, we remain proactive in
seeking support from other regional and state bodies as opportunities arise. Once we secure funding,
our commitment extends to continuous performance monitoring through the diligent application of
key performance indicators (KPIs), regular audits, and soliciting valuable input from our community
for ongoing improvement.
Link to Corporate Plan
Theme No. 3. - Prosperity

Focus areas include economic development, local business, innovation, arts and culture, waste and
a circular economy.

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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING                                     10 OCTOBER 2023


Objective 3.7
Deliver the waste program focused on accelerating actions and solutions including circular economy
opportunities to cut waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural
systems.
Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting, 17 August 2023, Item 6.2, Page 4
That Council note the report by the Manager Waste and Environmental Health to the General
Committee Meeting dated 14 August 2023 and adopt the From Waste to Resource Draft Waste
Plan 2023 – 2028 for further community consultation.
Finance
The Waste Plan was delivered under budget.
 Activity                                Amount (excl GST)
 Waste Consultant fees                                        $6,180
 Survey Analysis                                                $800
 Graphic Design & Printing                                   $13,667
 Marketing & Promotions                                       $1,700
 Total Spend Draft Waste Plan                                $22,347
 Total Budget Allocation                                     $67,000
 Remaining Funds                                             $44,653


Risk & Opportunities
A key risk associated with not adopting the Waste Plan is the impact on actions already identified
in other Council Plans and Strategies including the Corporate Plan, Environment Strategy,
Economic Development Strategy, and the Zero Emissions Organisational Strategy as well as
Queensland State government waste targets.

A key opportunity with adopting the Waste Plan is to be a leader in adhering to principles of the
waste hierarchy.


Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
External Consultation
Phase 1:
  • Getting waste sorted survey distributed to environmental organisations, community groups,
     schools, business associations and Tourism Noosa. Including provision of social media and
     newsletter content for third party sharing of the survey.
   •   Newspaper media release
   •   6 x social media posts including boosted posts.
   •   Face to face ‘pop up’ waste display at Noosaville library x 2, Cooroy library x 2, Pomona
       Farmers Market, Noosa Farmers Market, and National Recycling Week Family Movie Night.
   •   Posters at Reviva and Eumundi Noosa Road landfill.
   •   Posters and display at Council facilities.
   •   Presentations at schools, business association meetings, environmental organisations and
       Tourism Noosa.

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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING                                            10 OCTOBER 2023


Phase 2:
  • Draft Waste Plan distributed to environmental organisations, community groups, schools,
     business associations and Tourism Noosa. Including provision of social media and newsletter
     content for third party sharing of the Draft Waste Plan.
     •   Newspaper media release & waste articles
     •   6 x social media posts including boosted posts.
     •   Radio interview with Mayor Clare Stewart on ABC Breakfast radio
     •   Discussion at Noosa Business roundtable
     •   Noosa Council display at the Nooa Show
     •   Peregian Beach Community Association Meeting (by request)
     •   Digital display at Eumundi Noosa Road landfill and poster at Reviva.
     •   Posters and display at Council facilities.


Internal Consultation
Phase 1:
Councillor workshops:
     1. Waste – Background & Trends 12.05.2022
     2. Waste – COMSEQ Initiatives 02.12.2022
     3. Waste – Community Feedback 25.05.2023
     4. Waste – Draft Actions 29.06.2023
Cross departmental workshops:
     1. Waste – Background & Trends 07.09.2022
     2. Waste – Draft Actions 19.05.2023


Phase 2:
Cross departmental feedback
     1. Draft Waste Plan 18.09.23


Internal Consultation
Departments consulted:

     Office of the CEO, Mayor &           Community Services              Corporate Services
             Councillors
         Mayor & Councillors              Director                        Director
         Chief Executive Officer          Community Development       X   Financial Services
         Executive Officers               Sport & Active Lifestyles       Fleet
 X       Community Engagement             Arts & Culture                  Revenue Services
         People & Culture                 Community Connection            ICT
         Governance                       Customer Experience             Procurement

                                                                          Commercial Property

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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING                                      10 OCTOBER 2023


    Strategy & Environment          Development & Regulation       Infrastructure Services
      Director                        Director                 X    Director
      Strategic Land Use Planning     Development Assessment        Infrastructure      Planning,
                                                                    Design and Delivery
      Economic Development &          Local Laws                    Civil and Asset operations
      Destination Management
      Environmental Services          Environmental Health     X    Waste
      Innovation & Digital Hub        Building & Plumbing           Building & Facilities
                                      Property / Permits            Disaster Management