A WASTE and Resource Recovery Strategy has been adopted by Wollongong City Council for the next decade.

The strategy outlines the approach Council will adopt to improve its collection and processing of the city’s waste.

The strategy also outlines how Council will ensure the best use of landfill space in the period from 2012 to 2022.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the strategy has been refined following community consultation.

“During the consultation we listened to the community,” Cr Bradbery said.

“The main information the community wanted to see in the strategy was the principles of reducing our waste and litter and recovering as much material before it goes into our landfill at Whytes Gully.

“This make good sense as Council pays a levy to the State government for every tonne of waste that is placed at Whytes Gully. In coming years we will also be obliged to pay a carbon price on emissions from Whytes Gully. So if we are to get smarter in how we handle our waste and reduce emissions from Whytes Gully it will have a direct impact on Council’s finances over the next decade.”

Currently Council manages more than 150,000 tonnes of waste each year at a cost of $41 million.

“Council will need to research and begin implementing new opportunities in the areas of green electricity generation through capturing landfill gas, recycling facilities, alternative waste technologies and education. In this way we will be able to move to a sustainable waste management over the next 10 years.

”Emissions from our landfill site at Whytes Gully is recognised as a contributing factor to climate change. We must reduce and minimise our carbon emissions in future planning for our waste cycle.”

Council will review the strategy in 12 months time. Council will develop a Waste Action Plan to support the strategy.

For more information you can call Council’s Customer Service Centre on (02) 4227 7111.