30 March 2022
As part of its vision to provide modern and efficient waste collection services across the region, Southern Downs Regional Council is encouraging residents within the expanded roadside designated waste collection area (DWCA) to take advantage of the three-month free period.
More than twelve thousand Southern Downs households currently benefit from the convenience of kerbside waste collection and the plan to expand the waste collection area provides more residents with access to Council’s full suite of domestic waste services and bolsters the region’s recycling capacity.
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said that Council has received considerable feedback on the expansion of the DWCA and will be considering the community’s feedback.
“Council has received considerable feedback from residents within the expanded waste collection area and I want the community to know that its feedback is valued and will be considered,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“Council will be reviewing the matter in the coming weeks and provide a further update to residents in the expanded collection area before the end of June.”
Mayor Pennisi further said that a lot of work had been done behind the scenes prior to the roll out and he encouraged residents to fully utilise the service during the first three months so that the full benefits to their households and the region’s environmental footprint can be assessed.
“As previously communicated, this is a free service until the end of June and I encourage residents to fully utilise the service during this period.”
The expansion of the DWCA forms part of the ongoing strategic actions identified in Council’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan 2021-2024 (WWRRP), adopted by Council on 26 May 2021 and will relieve pressure on the newly constructed Warwick landfill cell by increasing recycling volumes.
While the move is necessary to reach the strategic outcomes of the Southern Downs WWRRP and progress the region’s long term environmental sustainability, Council acknowledges early feedback from residents asking to either be included or excluded could prompt a review.
“I want to reassure the community that Council officers together with Council’s resource recovery contractor, Cleanaway, have done a lot of work behind the scenes to get to this point, including a comprehensive audit of road safety, turn around points and collection points prior to the service being rolled out in the area,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“In 2020, the Southern Downs community disposed of more than 27,000 tonnes of waste into landfill and in 2021, not only did the Stanthorpe landfill reach capacity, but Council also invested in the construction of a new landfill cell at Warwick.
2/ends
“We don’t want to keep digging holes but that is exactly what will need to happen if we don’t manage our waste in a much smarter way.
“We need to work together to divert waste from landfill and find innovative ways of resource recovery that could potentially attract new industries to our region.
“Ultimately, at the core of this expansion is securing the region’s long term environmental sustainability which will benefit all ratepayers in the short and long term.”
Council’s Manager Environmental Services Darryl Brooks reminded the community that a number of resources have been prepared to inform the community of the new service.
“We appreciate that some residents have questions about the new service to their area and we encourage them in the first instance to visit our website and review the Frequently Asked Questions,” Mr Brooks said.
“Residents can access the Waste and Recycling Guide which includes information on collection days and maps showing the new service area from Council’s website at https://sdrcdoris.staging.elcomcms.com/living-here/waste---recycling/whats-on-in-waste-recycling.
“We must address the ongoing need to manage our waste responsibly and with more households having access to a dedicated recycling bin, we can rescue more recyclables from our landfill and increase its lifespan.”
KEY POINTS
- A comprehensive audit was conducted by Cleanaway on each property to ensure a service could be safely delivered.
- Council approved the designated waste collection area at an Ordinary Meeting on 23 February 2022. The service will commence from 4 April 2022 with a free three-month service and charges will commence from 1 July 2022.
- The 1150 residential properties in the expanded catchment who have received bins will be surveyed as part of the three-month launch period and Council will consider a review of the service in the coming weeks, with a decision expected to go before Councillors in June.
- Residents close to the area who have not been initially included but would like to opt in are reminded to contact Council to be considered.
Last edited date 30 Mar 2022