The City of Whittlesea will aim to reduce waste sent to landfill by 68,000 tonnes each year by 2030 under its new waste plan.
The council’s Rethinking Waste Plan 2021-2030 features 34 actions to be implemented during the next 10 years and will be used as a guide to council’s waste management and resource recovery services.
It aims to reduce the amount of waste generated per person by 20 per cent by introducing a residential glass recycling program by 2023, and extending the food and garden waste service city-wide by 2024.
It also sets out plans to provide rebates for reusable nappies, sanitary products and composting tools, and introduce ongoing community education programs on waste avoidance and resource recovery.
At its facilities, council is also rolling out recycling stations and introducing mandatory waste avoidance and resource recovery practices.
At the most recent ordinary council meeting, chair administrator Lydia Wilson described the plan as ‘visionary’.
“The Rethinking Waste Plan 2021-2030 responds to changes in community expectations, the waste and recycling industry, and government policy directions,” she said.
“It also looks at the big picture in terms of international best practice and trends in waste and resource recovery.”
She said the plan set clear targets that could be measured and reported against.
Some actions in the plan came from ideas from the community in its development and consultation process, involving community and industry surveys and focus groups.
“Our breadth of engagement generated some amazing ideas and feedback and I would like to thank everyone who contributed,” Ms Wilson said.
“While the plan does set out some ambitious targets, we are confident that by working together with our community we will be able to implement new and innovative approaches to minimise the impact of waste on our environment.”
Read the Rethinking Waste Plan 2021-2030 at www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/waste-environment/bins-and-waste/rethinking-waste-plan-2021-2030.
