Action needed to spare 11,000 tonnes of organic waste from landfill

Noosa is dumping more than 11,000 tonnes of organic waste in landfill annually, swallowing up space and producing 70% of Council’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions.

It’s a situation that can’t continue for space, financial and environmental reasons and Noosa’s first community jury could soon deliver a solution.

“We’re currently burying 1900 truckloads of material annually that could instead be composted to reduce landfill, slash emissions and provide a useful resource,” Noosa Council waste manager Wayne Schafer says.

“If you lined the 1900 trucks up bumper to bumper they’d stretch from Tewantin to Cooroy.”

Each week almost half the contents of a typical household’s wheelie bin is compostable organic waste such as garden clippings and food scraps.

“The 3300 residents who’ve taken up the optional garden waste service are diverting around 1,600 tonnes of organic waste from landfill each year. They should be applauded but we need to go further.”

Some councils have implemented successful strategies, while others have made costly mistakes. The recommendations of Noosa’s inaugural community jury – a first for a Queensland council – will help Noosa develop the right solution, says Mayor Noel Playford.

“The jury has spent five months examining the complex topic, consulting with experts in the field to determine how we best reduce the amount of organic waste we’re landfilling.

“I am sure other councils too will be eager to read what our community jury has to say.”

The community jury will deliver its recommendations later this month.

13 July 2015