Gundagai
Solid Waste
What the results tell us for Gundagai
Waste to landfill declined gradually during the reporting period, while recycling of materials doubled. These trends were attributed to the installation of a drop-off facility and a recycling facility, and implementation of steel collection. Council will introduce kerbside recycling in April 2005; the expected high participation rate will mean a sharp reduction in waste to landfill. From April 2005 Council will also participate in the new regional landfill at Jugiong, and consequently waste to landfill at Gundagai will be close to zero.
Good baseline data will be available for the next State of the Environment report once Council commences use of the regional landfill and the associated weighbridge. Council is a member of the South West Waste Management Group that operates the regional landfill and has also become part of a regional waste strategy.
The waste stream
The Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) waste strategy 'No time to Waste' and Council's membership of the South West Waste Management Group provide the framework for management of solid waste in Gundagai Shire.
The three years of recorded data (2001–02 to 2003–04) started and ended with a total waste generation of 930 tonnes (Table 1). On 2004 estimated residential population figures, this represents approximately 247 kilograms per person per year. In the same period, tonnages for recycling increased from 12% of the total waste stream to 22%. After taking into account the materials that are diverted from landfill for recycling, about 186 kilograms of waste were put into landfill in 2003–04 for every person in the shire.
| Waste Stream | Tonnes of waste | Change (%) 01–02 to 03–04 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01–02 | 02–03 | 03–04 | ||
| Recycled (tonnes) | 115 | 167 | 230 | +100% |
| Recycled (% of total*) | 12% | 17% | 22% | |
| To landfill (tonnes) | 815 | 795 | 700 | –14% |
| To landfill (% of total*) | 88% | 83% | 78% | |
| Total | 930 | 962 | 930 | no nett change |
* percentage of total waste stream (landfill plus resource recovery); Source: Gundagai Shire Council
Waste to landfill
The volumes of all categories of solid waste transported to landfill in the shire gradually decreased during the reporting period, resulting in an overall decrease of 14% for the period of recorded data (Table 2). As might be expected in a rural shire, most of the waste generated (78–85%) was household waste.
Council estimated approximately one tonne of illegal dumping a year. Restricted access to landfill during 2001–02 resulted in an increase in illegal dumping to around two tonnes in that year, until the new hours were accepted by the community.
| Type of waste | Tonnes of waste | Change (%) 01–02 to 03–04 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01–02 | 02–03 | 03–04 | ||
| Total household Domestic collection Private delivery | 690 630 60 | 665 605 60 | 550 500 50 | −20% −21% −17% |
| Commercial and industrial | 75 | 80 | 90 | +20% |
| Building and demolition | 50 | 50 | 60 | +20% |
| Total | 815 | 795 | 700 | −14% |
Source: Gundagai Shire Council
Recycling and other actions to reduce waste
Council reports that the community indicated it was willing to embrace recycling. This is borne out by the good use of drop-off facilities, and a doubling of recycling activity in a number of types of waste during the period of recorded data (see Table 3). The introduction of kerbside recycling in April 2005 will dramatically increase the amount of waste recycled in Gundagai.
Council also implemented collection and recycling of steel. A recent steel collection tender accepted by REROC will see the price aid to Council for steel increase from $65 a tonne to $165 a tonne. This price increase is reflective of the market, but more importantly is the result of a common tender approach by the 13 member councils of REROC.
Council expects to set specific milestones for waste reduction when the new regional landfill located at Jugiong (Harden Shire) is utilised from April 2005. More detailed figures on waste will become available from that time.
| Material recycled | Tonnes of material recycled | Change (%) 01–02 to 03–04 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01–02 | 02–03 | 03–04 | ||
| Aluminium | 15 | 20 | 25 | +67% |
| Glass | 20 | 30 | 35 | +75% |
| Metals (ferrous) | 50 | 70 | 100 | +100% |
| Motor oil | – | – | 4 | – |
| Paper | 10 | 12 | 15 | +50% |
| Plastic | 5 | 10 | 15 | +300% |
| Salvage and reuse | 5 | 10 | 11 | +120% |
| Steel cans | 10 | 15 | 25 | +150% |
| Total | 115 | 167 | 230 | +100% |
Source: Gundagai Shire Council
Resource implications of waste
In 2001–02, Council invested $150,000 in waste management and resource recovery. This increased to $230,000 in 2003–04, and represented a cost of around $60 for every person in the shire.
At 30 June 2004, Council had an active tipping area of 600 square metres, with 19 hectares set aside for landfill in the shire. Most of the current area set aside for waste management has been or is being used for other waste purposes such as stockpiling steel.
Council's participation in the regional waste strategy should minimise the amount of land used for waste management, and infrastructure costs. The move to the regional landfill will, over time, see the local area rehabilitated with tree planting and possible passive recreational use at some future date.
About the data
Data provided from Gundagai Shire Council records. Council maintains records of waste to landfill based on estimates of total quantities of materials collected.
Participation in the Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) waste strategy and the use of a new regional landfill at Jugiong will allow Council to develop baseline figures for the next State of the Environment report. Other REROC member councils from the Australian Capital Region are Cootamundra, Tumbarumba and Tumut. More details can be obtained from the REROC website http://www.reroc.com.au/waste.htm.
Gundagai Shire Council is also a member of the South West Waste Management Group, which comprises Boorowa, Cootamundra, Gundagai, Harden, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Yass and Young councils, and will be an active participant in the regional landfill.
Per person calculations are on the basis of the estimated residential population of 3763 people as at 30 June 2004.
For additional information on domestic waste management and recycling services, the Department of Local Government Comparative Information publications report annually on four key performance indicators:
- average charge for domestic waste management services per residential property
- costs per service for domestic waste collection
- recyclables—kilograms per person per year
- domestic waste—kilograms per person per year.
These indicators are seen to relate to the economic efficiency and environmental management performance of residential garbage collection services generally provided by councils in urban or town areas.
References
NSW Department of Local Government, Comparative Information (2005), viewed February 2005, for years 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au.