Strathbogie Shire residents kicking goals with waste

Monday, 14 January, 2019

So far this financial year, 70% of waste material collected from household bins in the Strathbogie Shire has been diverted from landfill, whilst recycling contamination levels remain consistent with the state-wide average.

Strathbogie Shire Council would like to congratulate residents for their ongoing commitment to the three-bin kerbside collection which continues to have outstanding results.

Council’s Waste Management Engineer, Darren Ritchie said the amount of organic waste in particular continues to grow.

“Organics quantities continue to rise with the warmer weather and we have seen contamination rates fall to their lowest levels over the past six months, falling below 2 percent in September, October, November and December,” Mr Ritchie said.

“Landfill waste continues to be the lowest volume collected of the three waste streams, which is fantastic to see.”

Mr Ritchie said despite these outstanding results, Council reminds residents medical waste cannot be placed in any of your household bins and must be disposed of via legally compliant means through a contractor or disposal facility licensed to hand medical waste.

“Medical waste is healthcare waste that may be contaminated by blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials,” Mr Ritchie explained.

Mr Ritchie said there was an incident in the shire recently where a small number of medical syringes were found within a load delivered to the composting facility.

“Although it was a minimal quantity, this resulted in the need to class the entire load as contaminated due to risk and safety concerns, with all of the organic material taken to landfill for disposal at Council’s expense,” he explained.

Instead, residents should arrange a professional who is licensed to collect and dispose of medical waste, or drop it off at a suitably licenced disposal facility.

Sharps containers are available and can be returned when full at the following locations:

Euroa Health - 36 Kennedy Street, Euroa

Nagambie Health Care - 22 Church Street, Nagambie