Waste Management Strategy
2015-2020
Prepared by One Planet Consulting
on behalf of
Macedon Ranges Shire Council
December 2014
Disclaimer
While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct,
One Planet Consulting and Macedon Ranges Shire Council give no warranty regarding its accuracy,
completeness, currency or suitability for any particular purpose and to the extent permitted by law, does not
accept liability for loss or damages incurred as a result of reliance placed upon the content of this publication.
This publication is provided on the basis that all persons accessing it undertake responsibility for assessing the
relevance and accuracy of its content.
Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................... i
1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1
2 BACKGROUND................................................................................. 2
2.1 What is ‘waste’ and where does it go? ................................................................ 2
2.2 Integration with Council Plan............................................................................... 2
2.3 Overview of municipality ..................................................................................... 3
2.4 Current waste and recycling services provided by MRSC................................... 3
2.5 Summary of current trends in waste and recycling in the Shire .......................... 4
3 VISION, OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES TO 2015-2020 ................ 6
3.1 Vision .................................................................................................................. 6
3.2 Objectives ........................................................................................................... 6
3.3 Principles ............................................................................................................ 6
4 GOALS .............................................................................................. 7
4.1 Goals................................................................................................................... 7
5 ACTION PLAN 2015-2020: Summary of recommendations, indicative
timeframe and costs .......................................................................... 9
Tables
Table 1 Goals for Waste Management Strategy, 2015 - 2020 ................................................................. 7
Table 2 Action Plan 2015 – 2020: Summary of recommendations, indicative timeframes and costs ..... 9
Waste Management Strategy 2015
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A lot of what we consider to be ‘waste’ is actually a resource with value and can be given a new
life.
This Macedon Ranges Shire Council Waste Management Strategy 2015 – 2020 steers Council
and its community towards reducing the amount of waste going to landfill and increasing the
recovery and recycling of valuable resources.
Over the past few years, Council has undertaken a number of actions in regards to waste
management services. It has been addressing the challenges of managing three closed landfill
sites so they meet regulatory requirements for environmental standards, while operating three
transfer stations (resource recovery centres). In late 2011, Council extended the residential
kerbside collection service for recyclable materials, and introduced a kerbside collection service
for recycling of garden organics into compost. Council engages contractors for most of its waste
management services, and transports all general waste to a landfill site in Sunbury.
Nevertheless, while these services seem to be well utilised, available information suggests that
the total volume of waste being sent to landfill from across the Shire is increasing, as is the total
volume of waste to landfill being generated per person. This is at an increasing cost to council
and ratepayers, a cost to the environment, and a waste of recyclable materials.
These increases appear to be against statewide trends which show waste to landfill at relatively
stable levels. Comparisons with other municipalities indicate there is scope for everyone in the
community to reduce waste, and to improve their waste practices, for general waste, recyclable
materials and garden organics, thereby increasing recycling quantities and lowering costs.
This Macedon Ranges Shire Council Waste Management Strategy 2015 – 2020 builds upon
Council’s work in waste management of the past few years and sets directions for the future.
To work towards the aim of reducing waste to landfill and increasing recovery of material
resources, a better understanding of the composition and lost value in residential kerbside bins
and public place bins, and of waste behaviour across the community, needs to be gained. This
will then inform targeted communications to increase awareness and action for good waste
behaviour across the community, and can be used to improve contracted services in specific
areas.
Council’s vision for waste management is defined in this strategy as:
The Macedon Ranges Shire Council provides leadership and empowers the community to
create a sustainable future by avoiding and reducing waste, and increasing the reuse and
recovery of material resources for improved productivity and environmental protection.
The vision is supported by 3 objectives, which reflect the goals of the Council Plan:
-
Deliver affordable, efficient, productive and coordinated waste and resource reuse
systems
Empower and involve the community in reducing waste and litter and increasing reuse
and recovery
Protect the amenity of townships and landscapes for current and future generations
through clean and litter free spaces
A total of 21 recommendations are presented in this strategy, reflecting the three objectives.
The proposed schedule for implementation of recommendations over the five year period from
2015 - 2020 is shown in Table 2. The recommendations were developed based on the following:
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Waste Management Strategy 2015





a review of available information about waste management in the Shire,
a review of practices undertaken by other councils and across the waste management
industry
a review of the current policy context for waste management
consultation with key stakeholders
a feasibility assessment of potential actions
The feasibility assessment was undertaken to test the viability of recommendations and to
inform the prioritisation of actions for implementation. It considered four criteria: the ease of
implementation, the economic viability of actions, and the likely social and environmental
benefits to be gained from implementing actions.
The information from the reviews and assessment and the rationale behind the
recommendations are provided in a supporting document, the Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Waste Management Strategy 2015 – 2020: Background Document, which can be downloaded
from council’s website or requested as a hard copy from Council customer service centres.
The highest priority for 2015 and 2016 is to complete and extend the work of recent years,
namely to meet the regulatory requirements for closed landfill sites, and to improve the
management and use of kerbside collection services, through improved data systems and
through communications and education programs.
While implementation of all actions will commence to some degree in 2015 or 2016, many will
continue for the life of the strategy and beyond, and be implemented to a greater degree from
2017, after obligations for closed landfill sites have been met and baseline data has been
determined. Additionally, many contracted services for waste management will be renewed in
2016. Therefore, a new action plan to support the Waste Management Strategy will be
developed in early to mid-2016, for the years to 2020 to account for these shifts from the current
situation.
To ensure that the strategy remains dynamic and relevant, and to ensure that findings from
monitoring and evaluations are incorporated into ongoing planning and programs, an annual
report on implementation progress will be presented to Council at the end of each calendar
year. The report will note the status of actions, amendments to actions and the learnings that
informed amendments, measures against goals listed in Table 1, and updates on waste
management in the broader policy and industry context.
Council looks forward to working with key stakeholders and the broader community to improve
all aspects of waste management across the Shire.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
1 INTRODUCTION
The Macedon Ranges Shire Council Waste Management Strategy 2015 - 2020 has been
developed to guide council and the community towards a future of less waste. It outlines key
actions for improving waste management through reducing the volume of waste being sent to
landfill, and increasing the volume of material resources recovered for re-use and recycling.
This Waste Management Strategy 2015 - 2020 strategy replaces the previous 2007 Waste
Management Strategy.
There were essentially two parts to the development of this new strategy. Firstly, a review of
the 2007 strategy was conducted in early 2014 by One Planet Consulting, engaged by Macedon
Ranges Shire Council. This included an assessment of waste management actions undertaken
since 2007, site visits, an update of the policy and industry context for waste management in
Victoria and Australia, consideration of strategic drivers such as material scarcity and climate
change, and consultation with key stakeholders.
The review was followed by the draft Waste Management Strategy 2015 - 2020, developed by
the consultant working with Council staff. The draft strategy was on public exhibition from 30th
September to 28th October 2014, supported by advertisements and articles in local media to
invite comment. In addition, the draft strategy was discussed at the inaugural meeting of the
recently formed Macedon Ranges Shire Council Health and Well-being Committee in early
November 2014.
Six comprehensive written submissions were received during the public exhibition period,
generally supporting the directions in the draft strategy and suggesting some additional
initiatives. The comments provided were incorporated where possible, or may be used over the
next few years to provide detail in implementation of recommendations. However, some
suggestions could not be adopted, mostly due to the complexity that implementation may
present with contracted services.
This final Waste Management Strategy 2015 - 2020 is a condensed version of the draft
document, with the aim of providing a clear and succinct public guide for improved waste
management in the Macedon Ranges Shire for 2015 – 2020.
The information from the draft Waste Management Strategy has been reformatted into the
Macedon Ranges Shire Council Waste Management Strategy 2015 – 2020: Background
Document, which can be downloaded from council’s website or requested as a hard copy from
Council customer service centres.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
2
BACKGROUND
2.1 What is ‘waste’ and where does it go?
When we dispose materials and products as ‘waste’ to landfill their value is lost to society, the
economy and the environment.
For example, each computer and monitor requires the mining of almost two tonnes of raw
material, plus many litres of water and fuel. It contains precious gold, copper, rare earths and
special plastics. Likewise furniture is made up of timber from felled trees, textiles and plastics
for cushioning. Food in glass jars is grown, watered, processed and packaged. All products
have been made and transported using energy, water, materials and other resources. This is
the real value and cost of materials and products.
When we send such valuable materials and products to landfill, not only are they lost to society,
but as a combined mass in one contained cell they rot, seep environmentally hazardous fluids
(leachate) and emit greenhouse gases. Landfills require costly engineering works, linings and
cappings, emission capture systems and management during their operation and then for
decades after closure to minimise their impact upon human health and the environment.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has three closed landfills and all require ongoing monitoring,
management and significant annual budget allocations.
Yet ‘one person’s trash is another person’s treasure’. This Waste Management Strategy
recognises that many products and materials do not have to go to landfill, as they still have
value and with appropriate separation and handling they can be reused or recycled. The
computer can be upgraded with new software or its metals and components can be recovered
and recycled, the furniture sold or donated and re-loved, the food can be composted and the jar
recycled to become a new jar.
In Australia and in the Macedon Ranges Shire there is already a range of separation, collection,
reuse and recycling options currently available or under development to enable greater value
to be gained from resources. This strategy outlines ways to inform, develop and support these
activities.
2.2 Integration with Council Plan
A key starting point for this Waste Management Strategy is the Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Council Plan 2013-2017 with the stated Vision to 2040:
‘We aspire to provide leadership in this inspiring region by providing the opportunity for
all to live a fulfilling life, while continuing to protect our heritage, environment and sense
of community through our shared commitment to a sustainable Macedon Ranges’.
There are three goals within the Council Plan, namely:
1. An inspiring place
2. An empowered community
3. A high performing organisation
Council’s Vision to 2040 and the three goals from its Council Plan form a basis to this Waste
Management Strategy. Furthermore, for maximum effectiveness and efficiency, this Strategy
also draws from and aligns with relevant federal, state and council strategies.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
2.3 Overview of municipality
The Macedon Ranges Shire is both a peri-urban and regional/rural municipality with prime
agricultural land, wooded areas and eight distinct town centres that make up 60-65% of the
current population of 44,098 people (Profile.id, Macedon Ranges Community Profile, May 2014,
http://profile.id.com.au/macedon-ranges).
As one of a number of municipalities bordering Greater Metropolitan Melbourne, it is
experiencing a growth in population and the challenges associated with that urban growth.
According to the Victorian Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure, the
population is projected to increase by around 1.2% each year to 48,300 by 2021, with some
townships such as Gisborne and Kyneton experiencing faster growth (Victorian Department of
Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure, 2014, http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/localgovernment/findyour-local-council/macedon-ranges). This growth places pressure upon existing infrastructure,
systems and budgets, meaning good planning for effective and efficient delivery of services is
essential.
Covering 1,747 km2, the Shire contains valuable grazing and primary agriculture, such as cattle,
sheep, vineyards and fruit orchards. Industry in the Shire is associated with agriculture (stock
feed, fencing, stockyard and abattoir), retail, tourism (accommodation and hospitality), water
supply and treatment, and some small manufacturing (food processing and small goods).
2.4
Current waste and recycling services provided by MRSC
Macedon Ranges Shire Council maintains three closed landfills located at Kyneton, Lancefield
and Bullengarook, and has no operational landfill within the municipality. All waste collected
from within the municipality is transported for disposal to a landfill in Sunbury located outside
the municipality.
Council provides three kerbside collection services for households: general waste, comingled
recycling and garden organics recycling. The residential garden organics recycling service was
introduced in October 2011, and has been taken up by 9,850 households. This has had a
significant positive impact over the past few years in reducing waste and associated financial
and environmental costs.
In addition, Council owns and operates three transfer stations located in Woodend, Kyneton
and Romsey. Each site is serviced by various contractors who collect separated items from
these sites. Council engages contractors to collect from street bins and Council venues, while
in-house teams provide street sweeping, litter collection and dumped rubbish services. External
to Council, private contractors collect from other organisations such as schools, hospitals and
retailers.
The quantity of waste being trucked to landfill from community kerbside and transfer station
collections is increasing significantly, rising from 10,649 tonnes in 2012-13 to 13,018 tonnes in
2013-14. This equates to 244.7kg per person in 2012-13. According to Sustainability Victoria’s
Annual Survey of local government waste services, the Victorian average in 2010-11 was 197kg
per person. In this Annual Survey, Macedon Ranges Shire Council performed below the state
average for both waste to landfill and recycling. (Sustainability Victoria, 2013, Victorian Local
Government Annual Survey, 2010-2011). It is likely that a number of factors are contributing to this
trend, including:


Population growth in the municipality
A more affluent community
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Waste Management Strategy 2015



Tendency to dispose rather than reuse or repair
Few alternative destinations for unwanted materials or products (charity stores, tip shop)
People still disposing of recyclable materials in general waste bins in the home,
workplace and public places due to lack of knowledge or lack of access to recycling bins.
Council influences the management of materials and waste through its level of recycling
services, recovery programs, financial incentives, fees and penalties. This ranges from direct
influence (extending the kerbside collection area or placing a cost upon drop off at Transfer
Stations) to indirect influence (education and signage).
2.5
Summary of current trends in waste and recycling in the Shire
There are a number of trends / directions driving the vision, goals and action program in this
Waste Management Strategy.
General waste
The apparent rise in waste going to landfill is concerning and could lead to Council and the
community paying higher costs for landfill and transport. Alternatively, Council can adopt leading
practices in regards to education and incentives for improved recycling, smaller bins and
accompanying differentials in bin pricing, and improved services and targets at transfer stations,
in service contracts and in procurement policies.
Recycling and reuse
Although the recycling rate in the Shire appears to have increased, contamination rates (wrong
things in wrong bins) are still high, meaning there is opportunity to further increase the quantity
and quality (and therefore efficiency) of recycling. This includes public education and bin
inspections addressing disposal habits and contamination sources, increasing the range of
materials accepted in recycling, increasing the diversion at transfer stations, offering recycling
in public places and at events, and by establishing recovery, repair and resale through local
charity, community and employment groups, and potentially a re-sale shop at transfer stations.
Improving resource productivity in Macedon Ranges
Disposal of materials and products to landfill is a significant cost and a loss of valuable resources
to local businesses and organisations. While these sectors are not part of Council’s collection
service, more can be done to provide advice and support on resource recovery and reuse, cost
structures, education for staff, suppliers and customers. This will improve the viability of the
local economy, improve resource productivity of organisations, and reduce environmental
impact.
Community engagement and participation
Council’s community engagement on waste and recycling has been relatively minimal, and
focussed upon information such as dates for collections and drop off at transfer stations.
Currently there is no co-ordinated targeted communications to households or townships with
high waste or contamination rates and no reporting of overall performance or cost implications.
The current growing rate of waste disposal (with recyclable material in the general waste bin)
and high rate of general waste contamination in the comingled recycling collections raises costs
and reduces the rebate paid back to Council and the community. Community engagement and
participation are essential for Council initiatives to succeed, and for a turn-around in current
trends and habits.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
Council assets
The high cost for Council’s remediation of closed landfill sites is necessary and unavoidable,
and linked to regulatory requirements. However, these sites will become assets to council and
potentially be used for other services. Council also has a strong asset base with its vehicles and
transfer stations.
Data management
In order to be able to plan affordable and effective waste and recycling programs, Council needs
to streamline and fill significant gaps in its data on current and future waste and recycling
services. Improvements relate to collecting information from contractors and through audits of
quantities from different streams, rates of contamination and capacity, costs for collection, pick
up, delivery and benefits of recycling.
Contract management
Council has a range of contracts for different services in addition to in-house teams. There are
opportunities to improve the reporting by existing contractors and rationalise some of the
services to gain better value. These could include targets, penalties and incentives around
contamination, quantities recovered, efficiency in fuel, emissions and collections.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
3
VISION, OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES TO 2015 -2020
3.1
Vision
The Macedon Ranges Shire Council provides leadership and empowers the community to
create a sustainable future by avoiding and reducing waste, and increasing the reuse and
recovery of material resources for improved productivity and environmental protection.
3.2
Objectives
The objectives for this Waste Management Strategy are to:
1. Deliver affordable, efficient, productive and coordinated waste and resource recovery
systems and services
2. Empower and involve the community in reducing waste and litter, and increasing reuse
and recovery
3. Protect the amenity of townships and landscapes for current and future generations
through clean and litter-free spaces
These three objectives align with the three goals in the Council Plan, the objectives in the
Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy and the aims of the National Waste Policy.
3.3
Principles
The objectives are supported by six underlying principles to guide implementation of this Waste
Management Strategy:
1. Provide a mix of affordable and accessible waste and recycling services and programs
2. Share responsibility and integrate waste and resource recovery into policies, systems
and communications
3. Recognise the current and future true cost of resources and waste (economic,
environmental and social)
4. Manage different ‘waste’ streams as resources for specific markets
5. Practice evidenced based decision making
6. Show leadership in planning and delivering services to create a strong, sustainable,
resilient community and economy
The view is that a consistent approach to waste, recycling and reuse in all sections of the
community will successfully and effectively change habits, whereas a patchwork approach will
cause problems, ultimately cost more, take longer to result in change and hinder success.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
4
GOALS
4.1
Goals
In addition to objectives and principles providing general direction to this Waste Management
Strategy, goals are needed to provide a more tangible measure of progress towards meeting
the objectives and realising the vision. Six goals are listed to provide guidance to Council and
the community in working towards the end aim of reduced waste to landfill and increased
recovery of material resources. The goals provide a basis for measuring the effectiveness and
success of the strategy in moving towards a future of less waste, and are designed to achieve
the following changes within Macedon Ranges Shire by 2020:
a) A change in attitudes and behaviour in all parts of the community so people cut waste,
emissions and appreciate the value of resources
b) Integration of waste and resource management into Council policies and systems, in
particular data management, contracts and community engagement
c) A decrease in costs for waste in real terms against current trends, along with increased
resource productivity (extending the life of materials and products), and improvement in
the resilience of the economy and the environmental sustainability of the community.
Goals
Baseline position (2015)
Success Indicators (2020)
1.
A shift from the current
upward trend in quantity of
waste to landfill, to a
decrease in the quantity
per household
(Indicative) upward trend in
quantity of waste to landfill
per household, with a
baseline figure to be
determined by audits of bins
in 2015
A measured decrease* in
the quantity of waste per
household sent to landfill
2.
A decrease in the
contamination rate in bins
for general waste, garden
organics and recyclable
materials
Baseline contamination
rates are to be determined
by audits of bins in kerbside
collection services in 2015
A measured decrease* in
contamination rates in each
type of household bin
3.
Council has reliable data
on quantities, emissions,
costs and benefits of
waste and recycling
systems
Incomplete and unreliable
data regarding Council
contractors and services
and manual information
systems
Council has useful data sets
for contracts, costs, benefits
and quantities for kerbside
bins, street bins, events,
litter and transfer station
services
4.
Council is a leader in the
community with regard to
waste and recycling
Uncertainty in council waste
and recycling performance,
trends, habits and costs
Council establishes and
publicly reports on targets
for its own performance in
waste, recycling and reuse
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
5.
Community and keynote
events to adopt best
practice waste and
resource management
Unmeasured quantities of
waste and recycling and
litter are generated at public
events and in public places.
A baseline figure on waste
generation at a key event
will be determined in 2015
6.
Local community and
businesses have identified
and implemented
improved material
efficiency and resource
exchange opportunities
Unmapped and
unmeasured costs and
opportunities for resource
reuse and improved
productivity in industry
sectors
Waste, recycling and litter
rates are regularly
measured and show
improvement in public
practices over time
At least one community and
/ or keynote event becomes
a model for best practice in
waste and resource
management
Data on materials, value
and destinations is available
to enable exchange and
investment by community,
business and government
* The decreases may be measured through sources such as audits, weighbridges and invoices from
landfills
Table 1 Goals for Waste Management Strategy, 2015-2020
The recommendations presented in Table 2 will help achieve the goals and ultimately the
objectives and vision of this strategy.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
5 ACTION PLAN 2015-2020: Summary of recommendations, indicative timeframe and costs
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
2015 –
commence
and complete
Recommendation 1: Manage landfills
and associated environmental
impacts to meet regulatory
requirements, and communicate the
costs and benefits of the works to the
community.
>$2.5M
Recommendation 2: Establish data
and information systems.
< $10K
Operations
1
4
Recommendation
12
Operations
1
3
5.1
Recommendation
1
A comprehensive data management
system(s) for staff and contractors is
needed to accurately record and
report on the true costs and benefits
of all aspects of managing different
types of waste, from households,
public places, and transfer stations.
Recommendations 3: Conduct
targeted and representative audits to
obtain baseline data on volume and
composition of household (general
5.4.5
$20K - $50K
9
Operations,
Strategic Planning
and Environment,
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
2
5.1
Recommendation
2
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
waste, recycling and garden waste)
and public place bins.
2015 –
commence
and continue
Recommendation 4: Inform and
engage the community on best
practice waste management. To
achieve a step change in current
disposal behavior and improved
productivity and efficiency, Council
needs to expand its audience and
share the responsibility. This
involves Council:
-
-
-
$10K - $20K
p/a
Strategic Planning
and Environment,
Operations,
Communications
2
Using available data and / or
conducting surveys to better
understand motivators and
barriers to good waste
practices across different
sectors of the community
Developing customised
materials and education
programs for different sectors
of the community, based on
survey data, and on findings
from Recommendation 3 and
Recommendation 5
Providing reinforcing
messages in communications
regarding correct waste
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
1, 2
5.6.1, 5.6.2
Recommendation
16
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
-
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
management practices and
use of waste infrastructure
and services
Presenting an informative and
compelling case for change
and clear directions for
improving waste practices in
all communications and
engagements
Recommendation 5: Maintain data
and information systems to enable
better management and analysis of
data regarding all waste streams at
transfer stations and from kerbside
and public place collections.
< $10K
Operations
1
3
5.4.3
Recommendation
10
Council needs good data to make
good decisions, and to manage all
aspects of waste management in a
cost effective manner. The
responsibility for good data
management rests with staff and
contractors, requiring a partnership
approach to waste management.
The adoption of electronic tracking
and weighing devices to obtain data
regarding the kerbside collection
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
services should be investigated by
Council.
Recommendation 6: Investigate the
business case for different service
options to encourage reduction of
waste at the household level:
$10K-$20K
Operations
1
1
5.4.2
Recommendation
8
a) Potential introduction of 80
litre bins for general waste,
retaining the current weekly
collection cycle
b) Potential introduction of a
fortnightly collection schedule
for general waste, retaining
the existing 120 and 140 litre
bins.
The business case needs to address
costs, benefits and logistics of
options, possibly with a sunset clause
to a phase-in period. It could also
consider a proportional cost structure
to provide a clear and strong incentive
for residents to choose the smaller bin
or less frequent collection services.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
Recommendation 7: Address options
for improving management of organic
waste. This involves Council:
$10K $100K
-
-
-
Operations,
Strategic Planning
and Environment
1
Providing residents with
access to discounted compost
bins and worm farms and
partnering with organisations
and community groups who
run workshops related to
home composting
Improving containment
facilities for receiving and
mulching green waste at
transfer stations, and
identifying a means for
processing remnant materials
(possibly with manure waste
from sales yards to produce a
soil conditioner)
Continuing to work
collaboratively with
Sustainability Victoria and
regional waste management
groups regarding
management of organic waste
and associated services.
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
1, 2
5.4.4
Recommendation
11
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
Recommendation 8: Reduce litter and
protect the amenity of townships and
landscapes.
<$1K
Operations
3
5
5.8.2
Recommendation
20
Council can run litter reduction
campaigns in townships and problem
areas, and investigate means of
reducing contamination in leaf
collections (like cigarette butt bins),
to enable incorporation into green
organics or mulch systems, thereby
reducing disposal to landfill.
Recommendation 9: Continue to
manage illegal dumping and disposal
of hard rubbish.
$10K $100K
Operations
3
3
5.8.3
Recommendation
21
In addition to monitoring sites
susceptible to rubbish dumping and
prosecuting offenders, Council may
consider publicising prosecutions as a
deterrent to illegal rubbish dumping.
The current position of not offering a
hard waste collection service should
be maintained, and Council instead
can encourage residents to deposit
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Waste Management Strategy 2015
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
valuable items at charity shops or
transfer stations.
2016 –
commence
and complete
Recommendation 10: Guide staff and
contractor performance through
introducing targets and reporting
requirements into waste and recycling
services and contracts.
< $1K
Recommendation 11: Determine the
business case for potential
introduction of public place recycling
in future years, based on findings
from Recommendation 3 and
experience in other relevant local
government areas.
$10K - $30K
Recommendation 12: Survey local
organisations and trader groups to
identify resource use options to
support increased reuse of valuable
material streams, such as organic
material from sales yards and food
outlets. Use the findings to consider
business cases for potential market
<$10K
Operations, Green
Team
1
Operations
3
3
5.4.1
Recommendation
7
5
5.8.1
Recommendation
19
Strategic Planning
and Environment,
Economic
Development
15
1
Waste Management Strategy 2015
6
5.1
Recommendation
3
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
activity or to facilitate business-tobusiness exchange.
2016 –
commence
and continue
Recommendation 13: Track trends
and forecast implications such as
changing fuel and resource prices for
waste systems and Council’s own
operations. This may include
participating in industry seminars and
the regional waste and resource
recovery management groups.
< $1K
Operations, staff
representative(s)
on Loddon-Mallee
Waste and
Resource
Recovery Group
1
Recommendation 14: Utilise baseline
audit data (from Recommendation 3)
and conduct regular audits of
kerbside and public place bin
contents to inform and update
contract services and education
campaigns.
$10K - $30K
p/a
Operations,
Strategic Planning
and Environment
1
Recommendation 15: Demonstrate
leadership in waste management and
resource recovery through Council’s
operations and contracts for its own
staff, contractors, infrastructure and
buildings. Report annually to Council
on targets, programs and
<$10K
Operations
1
3, 4
6.2
Recommendation
4
1, 2
5.4.2
Recommendation
9
4
5.3.1
Recommendation
5
16
Waste Management Strategy 2015
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
performance, using data obtained
from contractors.
Recommendation 16: Enhance
Council’s procurement policy and
power, through actively sourcing
products and services that meet
criteria for environmental advantage,
particularly in regards to tenders for
major expenditure.
$10K $100K
Corporate
Services
1
Recommendation 17: Encourage and
promote resource efficiency across
the business sector, for example,
through facilitating information
sessions and distributing relevant
materials in collaboration with local
trader groups, industry groups,
regional networks, and Sustainability
Victoria.
<$10K
Economic
Development,
Strategic Planning
and Environment,
Communications
1
Recommendation 18: Encourage
market pull for resource reuse and
efficiency with residents and
businesses, both in communications
and engagement, and through
leading by example in adopting a
<$1K
Strategic Planning
and Environment,
Economic
Development,
Communications,
1
17
4
5.3.2
Recommendation
6
6
5.5
Recommendation
13
Waste Management Strategy 2015
4, 6
5.5.1
Recommendation
14
TIMEFRAME
RECOMMENDATION
INDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITY RELEVANT RELEVANT REFERENCE IN
COST
OBJECTIVE GOALS
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENT
sustainable purchasing model (for
example, ECO-Buy).
Corporate
Services
Recommendation 19: Include waste
management conditions in venue
agreements and permits for events.
<$10K
Recommendation 20: Expand
recovery from transfer stations by
receiving further materials / products
that are problematic in landfill and / or
have reuse value, such as decorative
paint tins, concrete and bricks.
<$10K
Recommendation 21: Investigate the
feasibility of establishing a recycle
shop at a transfer station(s), or
forming a partnership with a service
provider or social enterprise to
establish a similar operation
elsewhere.
$10K $100K
Recreation and
Sport, Community
and Culture
2
Operations
2
5
5.6.3
Recommendation
17
4
5.7
Recommendation
18
Operations,
Community
Development
1
Table 2 Action Plan 2015-2020: Summary of recommendations, indicative timeframe and costs
18
Waste Management Strategy 2015
4
5.5.2
Recommendation
15
One Planet Consulting
Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Draft Waste Management Strategy
19