Meeting papers

the levy does not apply to recyclable materials.   the Waste Plan is stewardship - actively




                                                                                                          Waste Plan 2023-2028
                                                   taking actions to conserve and protect the
Waste costs are expected to increase. In the
                                                   environment for the benefit of current and
2022-23 financial year the State waste levy
                                                   future generations.
was $95 per tonne and the Council cost was
$162 per tonne. The State government levy
will increase annually by $10/ tonne, until it
reaches $145/ tonne on 1 July 2027.                  “Take responsibility for their own
There is a significant cost to sending waste         waste reduction and recycling -
to landfill, every tonne of waste that can be        Council should not be seen as the one
reused and recycled is a cost saving and even        responsible - we are responsible as
has potential to create revenue through the          citizens whether young or old.”
sale of materials.
                                                     - Waste Survey Respondent


“This is not about what it will cost to do
this, it’s about what it will cost in the long
                                                   Community Engagement and
term if we don’t.”                                 Participation




                        T
- Waste Survey Respondent                          Noosa residents are an active and engaged
                                                   community, evidenced by the number of




                      F
                                                   business and community organisations working
                                                   towards sustainability goals of reduced
Innovation and Technological




                     A
                                                   emissions and waste avoidance, reuse, and
Advancements                                       recycling. The Noosa community is a major




                    R
                                                   voice in the push for waste minimisation.
Waste management practices are constantly
evolving as new technologies and innovations




                  D
emerge. A key driver of the Waste Plan
is for Noosa Council to investigate the              “Give residents the opportunity
feasibility of innovative solutions for waste        to recycle everything. There are
collection, treatment, and recycling. The            best practices abroad, towns that
plan is intentionally designed as a five-year        recycle everything they use. That is
plan (rather than 10 years) as it’s anticipated      the model I think we should strive
that within the next five years there will           to achieve. Council should lead
be technological advancements in waste               by providing the opportunities.
management that are likely to improve                Residents should follow by doing
operational efficiency and environmental             their part: recycle whatever they use.
outcomes. This includes infrastructure               Two principles should be followed:
improvements such as the new Sunshine                1. Recycling should be easy, easy
Coast state-of-the-art Materials Recovery
                                                     access, well organised.
Facility that is due to be completed by the end
of 2023. The facility will be equipped with the      2. Everyone (including business)
latest technology sorting equipment to allow         pays for their own waste disposal.
more types of products to be recycled.               This creates an incentive to actually
                                                     reduce waste.
Environmental Stewardship                            In the end, we can talk about
In 2007, Noosa Shire was awarded UNESCO              recycling all we want (and we
Biosphere Reserve status, which recognised           should), but reducing our waste is
the community priority of managing                   the only sustainable solution.”
environmental sustainability in balance              - Waste Survey Respondent
with community needs. A key ethic driving

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