Council Joins the Push to Save Our Recycling

In move to create a more sustainable waste future for the Coffs Harbour LGA and wider NSW community Council have endorsed the Local Government NSW Save Our Recycling campaign.

The campaign was unanimously endorsed at the 2018 Local Government NSW Conference and aims to realise the reinvestment of 100% of the waste levy collected by the NSW Government each year into waste minimisation, recycling and resource recovery.

Certain licenced waste facilities in NSW are required to pay a contribution to the NSW Government for each tonne of waste received at the facility. This contribution aims to reduce the amount of waste being landfilled and promote recycling and resource recovery.

However in 2016/17 the NSW Government committed only 10% of the of the $726 million waste levy collected from local government, community, businesses and industry through the Waste Less Recycle More initiative. The remainder was returned to the NSW Government’s consolidated revenue.

Coffs Harbour City Council Mayor, Cr Denise Knight said that last financial year Council paid $2.72 million in waste levy and received $107,045 in funding over the same period to assist with waste management and recycling infrastructure, programs and education.

“Overall the NSW Government’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative allocates $801 million over eight years (2013-2021) to waste and recycling, however the waste levy collected over that same period will be over $4.62 billion,” she said.

“The reinvestment of the waste levy to support waste and resource recovery infrastructure, develop markets and innovative solutions, and undertake other initiatives to encourage reuse and recycling also offers wide-ranging benefits to communities right across NSW. “

“There is the potential for economic growth, new infrastructure, new technology and new jobs, particularly in our regional areas.”

“Together Council’s across NSW are calling on all NSW Government political parties and candidates to commit to reinvesting 100% of the waste levy for the purpose for which it is collected – waste management, recycling and resource recovery.”

“Our residents are some of the best recyclers in the state and I ask the community to join the campaign at saveourrecycling.com.au”