Draft Waste Management Strategy now ready for feedback

Council, in conjunction with MRA Consulting, has developed a draft Waste Management Strategy to guide its waste management activities for the next 10 years.

Historically, waste management improvements were achieved through ad-hoc initiatives and responses to changing regulations, such as the waste levy and landfill licensing.

The focus is now shifting to a long-term vision of a sustainable future, emphasising waste reduction, resource conservation, and environmental responsibility.

Mayor Liz Schmidt said to guide this new direction, Council conducted a survey to understand what mattered most to the community in terms of waste management.

“This is a 10 year plan and we needed to find out what the community wanted Council to prioritise, whilst also considering financial impacts,” said Mayor Schmidt.

Respondents completing the survey were asked questions to identify how important they considered things like protecting our environment, making sure we don’t leave problems for future generations, reducing emissions, making waste management services fair and accessible to all, as well as value for money in terms of rates and charges.

Feedback received was then utilised to inform the strategy which lays out an approach to improving waste management in our community and the direction Council will take from 2025 to 2035.

The strategy is to reduce waste to landfill and increase the recovery of materials for recycling through the development and improvement of current waste management practices.

“Before the strategy is finalised, we’re asking the community to review the draft and let us know how we went so that we can consider any changes before it is adopted by Council,” continued Mayor Schmidt.

The draft strategy is now open for public comment until Wednesday, 18 December 2024 and can be viewed on Council’s Have Your Say portal at haveyoursay.charterstowers.qld.gov.au/.  Hardcopies are also available at Council’s Administration Centre and Excelsior Library.

For more information on this project, please call Council on 07 4761 5300.