Talking Waste for 2024-2034

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Consultation has concluded

We have provided updates on this project. You can see them by viewing the project News Feed.

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We are working on our new Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2024-2034. Our new Waste Strategy will serve us for the next 10 years. We know our community will change significantly between now and 2034, so we need to ensure our new strategy considers this. It means that we have goals that are far reaching and can deliver them in a magnitude of ways.

We know the community cares about waste. In our recent Community Satisfaction Survey, our domestic waste service, including red collection, recycling and FOGO were the top performing areas of satisfaction from respondents. We want to make sure people's voices are heard in preparing for this new strategy and create a meaningful plan for the next 10 years in waste management.

What is a waste strategy and why do we have one?

A Waste Strategy shows a pathway to sustainable waste management for us and the community. It holds us accountable for our promise to the community, but also outlines our expectations in the community to manage waste in a sustainable and effective way.

Council is responsible for our city’s waste removal, treatment and disposal services. As you would expect, managing waste is the single biggest budget item for us on a year-in year out basis. We spend money on both major infrastructure and regular services that touch the lives of every member of our community.

What was achieved in the last waste strategy?

Our last strategy helped pave the way for some important achievements in our waste management. We thought it would be important to show what we achieved in our last 10 year strategy:

  • Introduction of a weekly green bin FOGO service
  • Increased Landfill gas capture at Whytes Gully
  • The construction and opening of the Community Recycling Centre
  • Community Recycling Stations
  • Introduction of Australia’s first hydrogen powered waste collection truck
  • Improved Environmental performance at our waste facility
  • Waste education including a one stop waste service app.
  • Sustainable waste management at public/special events
  • Improvement of the Household Cleanup Service
  • Enhanced Christmas recycling service and Greenwaste drop off services

What is our focus area for this new strategy?

This new Waste Strategy will have a longer term view for the next 10 years on what we need to achieve in waste. This will account for the changes we expect ahead in the waste industry. Some changes we are anticipating include:

  • Moving towards Net Zero and what actions need to happen to achieve this
  • Possible new technologies and markets, that may be able to assist with waste sorting and energy
  • Maximising the community value and use of Council Assets in a period of high cost of living

You can see more matters we are wishing to focus on here.

To target this, we have created four new goals:

Goal 1: Reduce Waste to Landfill, Goal 2 Transition to a Circular Economy, Goal 3 Reduce our Waste Related Emissions and Goal 4 Improve our Waste Management

  1. Reduce Waste to Landfill - for example, avoiding waste, reusing, recycling and repurposing. Creating less waste in the first instance.
  2. Transition to a Circular Economy
  3. Reduce our Waste Related Emissions
  4. Improve our Waste Management - for example, looking for innovations in the waste industry, improve disposal of unavoidable waste.

Education underpins all 4 goals. We also want to know how we can deliver better education programs and pieces that will suit our community best.

How can I share my thoughts on the four goals and what should be considered in Council's waste management?

We have chosen four goals for the new waste strategy. We want to find out what you think of each goal and where our focus needs to be. To be involved you can:

  1. Complete a short survey that asks what you think of our 4 goals
  2. Email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
  3. Call us on 4227 7111 to speak with our Engagement team

Have questions? See our Frequently Asked Questions and we may have the answer for you. If not, call us on 4227 71111 or email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au with your question and we will get back to you.

Next steps?

From this period of engagement, we will create the Waste Strategy 2024-2034 and put in on public exhibition likely around June. This will be another opportunity for you to have your say and also see where your feedback was considered in the strategy. We will keep you updated along the way.

Accessibility and language assistance

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay ServiceIf you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.

Submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council’sPrivacy Notification before submitting your feedback. 

Feedback closes 20 May 2024

We have provided updates on this project. You can see them by viewing the project News Feed.

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We are working on our new Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2024-2034. Our new Waste Strategy will serve us for the next 10 years. We know our community will change significantly between now and 2034, so we need to ensure our new strategy considers this. It means that we have goals that are far reaching and can deliver them in a magnitude of ways.

We know the community cares about waste. In our recent Community Satisfaction Survey, our domestic waste service, including red collection, recycling and FOGO were the top performing areas of satisfaction from respondents. We want to make sure people's voices are heard in preparing for this new strategy and create a meaningful plan for the next 10 years in waste management.

What is a waste strategy and why do we have one?

A Waste Strategy shows a pathway to sustainable waste management for us and the community. It holds us accountable for our promise to the community, but also outlines our expectations in the community to manage waste in a sustainable and effective way.

Council is responsible for our city’s waste removal, treatment and disposal services. As you would expect, managing waste is the single biggest budget item for us on a year-in year out basis. We spend money on both major infrastructure and regular services that touch the lives of every member of our community.

What was achieved in the last waste strategy?

Our last strategy helped pave the way for some important achievements in our waste management. We thought it would be important to show what we achieved in our last 10 year strategy:

  • Introduction of a weekly green bin FOGO service
  • Increased Landfill gas capture at Whytes Gully
  • The construction and opening of the Community Recycling Centre
  • Community Recycling Stations
  • Introduction of Australia’s first hydrogen powered waste collection truck
  • Improved Environmental performance at our waste facility
  • Waste education including a one stop waste service app.
  • Sustainable waste management at public/special events
  • Improvement of the Household Cleanup Service
  • Enhanced Christmas recycling service and Greenwaste drop off services

What is our focus area for this new strategy?

This new Waste Strategy will have a longer term view for the next 10 years on what we need to achieve in waste. This will account for the changes we expect ahead in the waste industry. Some changes we are anticipating include:

  • Moving towards Net Zero and what actions need to happen to achieve this
  • Possible new technologies and markets, that may be able to assist with waste sorting and energy
  • Maximising the community value and use of Council Assets in a period of high cost of living

You can see more matters we are wishing to focus on here.

To target this, we have created four new goals:

Goal 1: Reduce Waste to Landfill, Goal 2 Transition to a Circular Economy, Goal 3 Reduce our Waste Related Emissions and Goal 4 Improve our Waste Management

  1. Reduce Waste to Landfill - for example, avoiding waste, reusing, recycling and repurposing. Creating less waste in the first instance.
  2. Transition to a Circular Economy
  3. Reduce our Waste Related Emissions
  4. Improve our Waste Management - for example, looking for innovations in the waste industry, improve disposal of unavoidable waste.

Education underpins all 4 goals. We also want to know how we can deliver better education programs and pieces that will suit our community best.

How can I share my thoughts on the four goals and what should be considered in Council's waste management?

We have chosen four goals for the new waste strategy. We want to find out what you think of each goal and where our focus needs to be. To be involved you can:

  1. Complete a short survey that asks what you think of our 4 goals
  2. Email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
  3. Call us on 4227 7111 to speak with our Engagement team

Have questions? See our Frequently Asked Questions and we may have the answer for you. If not, call us on 4227 71111 or email engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au with your question and we will get back to you.

Next steps?

From this period of engagement, we will create the Waste Strategy 2024-2034 and put in on public exhibition likely around June. This will be another opportunity for you to have your say and also see where your feedback was considered in the strategy. We will keep you updated along the way.

Accessibility and language assistance

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay ServiceIf you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.

Submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council’sPrivacy Notification before submitting your feedback. 

Feedback closes 20 May 2024

Consultation has concluded
  • Draft Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy now on exhibition

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    Our Draft Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy for 2024-2034 is now on exhibition and we would love to know what you think. You can view the Draft Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2024-2034 and other information on our project page. A feedback form has been created to leave your feedback.

    Feedback closes midnight 23 July 2024.

  • Engagement Findings - Closing the Loop on Waste

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    Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent conversation on Waste. We heard from over 130 people who gave valuable insight into their interactions with waste in their daily life. We learnt a lot and it was a valuable engagement that will directly inform our new Draft Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy.

    Engagement with the community was held from 2 May – 20 May 2024. The engagement questions surrounding the following topics:

    1. Reduce Waste to Landfill
    2. Transition to a Circular Economy
    3. Reduce Waste Related Emissions
    4. Improve Waste Management
    5. Education

    What we did

    Communication Methods:

    • Project information was available on the Our Wollongong website.
    • Emails, newsletters, media releases, social media posts, posters, and FAQs distributed widely to relevant stakeholders.
    • Background information and surveys available at Wollongong City Council Libraries.

    Engagement Methods:

    • Online surveys and Q&A forums on the Our Wollongong website
    • Community workshop at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre on 2 May 2024
    • Email submissions and hard copy surveys
    • An internal workshop with Council staff.

    Engagement Participation
    The engagement activities included:

    • Online participation with 555 web page views, 450 individuals aware, 154 informed, and 87 engaged.
    • Community workshop participation with 16 attendees.
    • Emails and hard copy survey submissions.
    • Engagement with our local Aboriginal Community

    What we heard

    The themes that emerged from engagement with the community under each of the five focus areas have been summarised as:

    Goal 1: Reduce Waste to Landfill

    • Support for reuse initiatives like libraries of things and repair cafes.
    • Improving recycling programs for various materials.
    • Support for reuse initiatives like “libraries of things” that store repaired and reusable items, and repair cafes.
    • Reducing single-use plastics through local regulations.
    • Enhancing waste collection and segregation with incentives.
    • Strong focus on community education and engagement.

    Goal 2: Transition to a Circular Economy

    • Encouraging mindful shopping and reducing waste.
    • Promoting recycling, repair, and repurposing at individual and organisational levels.
    • Legislative support for sustainable practices and circular economy policies.

    Goal 3: Reduce Waste Related Emissions

    • Collaboration with other councils and governments.
    • Community education on waste management.
    • Infrastructure improvements for sorting and recycling.
    • Transitioning to electric or hybrid waste collection vehicles.

    Goal 4: Improve Waste Management

    • Continuous education and community engagement.
    • Reducing and recycling soft plastics.
    • Expanding waste reduction initiatives, especially FOGO in multi-dwelling units.
    • Improving infrastructure at Whytes Gully.
    • Advocating for plastic reduction legislation and ensuring accountability.

    Improving Education and Communication

    • Enhanced communication through real estate, strata, and revamped Council website.
    • Interactive learning via sustainability festivals, community events, and workshops.
    • School involvement in waste management education.
    • Mobilising community volunteers and consistent messaging to reinforce recycling rules.
    • Providing clear, accessible information and incentives to encourage proper waste management.

    Aboriginal Engagement

    Multiple conversations were had with members of the local Aboriginal Community on the topic of waste. Some of the topics discussed included caring for Country, considering impact, education, reuse of existing assets and partnering with other Councils on initiatives.

    If you would like to read the responses in more detail, you can view the Engagement Report - Talking Waste for 2024-2034 now available.

    Next Steps

    From this period of engagement, we have created the Draft Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2024-2034 that is scheduled to go before Councillors on Monday 24th June. Councillors will evaluate the Draft Strategy and decide whether to endorse it for exhibition.