COOLAMON SHIRE COUNCIL WASTE MANAGEMENT AND … · Melbourne and about 150km from Canberra. The...

Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2017 -23 1

COOLAMON SHIRE COUNCIL WASTE

MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE

RECOVERY STRATEGY

2017 – 2023


Contents

1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 4

1.1 The Coolamon Local Government Area ................................................................................... 4

1.2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 5

1.3 Legislative and Policy context .................................................................................................... 6

1.3.1 National legislation and policy ............................................................................................ 6

1.3.2 State legislation and policy ................................................................................................. 8

1.3.3 Relevant Regional Strategies ........................................................................................... 11

2. THE CURRENT SITUATION ........................................................................................................... 12

2.1 Coolamon population and demographic information/snapshot ................................................ 12

2.2 Waste and resource recovery collection systems ................................................................. 13

2.3 Waste and resource recovery volume data ............................................................................ 14

2.3.1 Waste trends and projections ........................................................................................... 14

2.3.2 Waste composition and performance .............................................................................. 14

2.3.3 Kerbside waste service ............................................................................................................ 15

2.4 Waste and resource recovery collection, processing and disposal contracts................... 15

2.5 Existing and future waste and recycling infrastructure within the LGA ................................... 16

3. THE FUTURE ..................................................................................................................................... 20

3.1 Vision for the strategy ..................................................................................................................... 20

3.2 Strategic outcomes .......................................................................................................................... 20

3.3 Targets and performance measures............................................................................................. 20

4. HOW DO WE GET THERE? ............................................................................................................ 21

5. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY .................................................................................................... 27

5.1 Action plan ........................................................................................................................................ 27

5.2 Tasks list per theme ................................................................................................................... 28

Appendix A – Model Transfer Station Design ........................................................................................ 31

Appendix B – Coolamon Landfill Sites and Life Expectancies ............................................................ 34

Appendix C – Collection Maps ................................................................................................................. 38

References .................................................................................................................................................. 43


Acronyms Abbreviation Definition C&D Construction and Demolition (waste) C&I Commercial and Industrial (waste) DCP Development control plans EPR Extended Producer Responsibility FOGO Food organics and garden organics HH Household MRF Materials Recovery Facility MSW Municipal Solid Waste MUDs Multi-unit dwellings pa per annum REROC Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils Residual waste Garbage waste disposed in the red-lidded bin SME Small to medium enterprises SWMMP Site Waste Minimisation and Management Plan SUDs Single unit dwellings tpa Tonnes per annum TS Transfer station WARR Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy WLRM Waste Less Recycle More wk. Week


1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Coolamon Local Government Area

The Shire of Coolamon is located in the State’s south-west on the eastern fringe of the

Riverina region. The Shire is approximately 450 kilometres from both Sydney and

Melbourne and about 150km from Canberra. The City of Wagga Wagga, 40km to the

south of Coolamon, is the nearest major urban centre; Narrandera, Temora and

Cootamundra (to the west and east respectively) are important secondary regional

centres within an hour’s travel radius.

The LGA has a population of 4,308 people (ABS, 2014c). With a total land area of 2,431

km2 (NSW DLG, 2013), Coolamon Shire takes in the three larger towns of Coolamon,

Ganmain and Ardlethan, and the smaller villages of Marrar, Matong and Beckom.

Coolamon Shire is one of the richest agricultural and pastoral districts in the Riverina and

is renowned for its production of wheat, canola, barley, oats and other cereal crops, as

well as hay and chaff. Wool, lamb and beef are also important products from the area.

There are 1,790 dwellings in the LGA with an average of 2.6 people per household (ABS,

2013c). Of occupied private dwellings in Coolamon 95% are single-unit dwellings

(SUDs), 0.3% are semidetached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc., 4% are multi-

unit dwellings (MUDs) and the remainder are other dwellings (ABS, 2013c).

The following table provides a basic statistical comparison between the Local

Government Area of Coolamon and the six neighbouring Local Government Areas

whose main centres lie within approximately one hour’s driving distance of the township

of Coolamon.

TOWN POPULATION

(2014 ABS)

ROAD DISTANCE

FROM COOLAMON

TEMORA 6,050 65 km

JUNEE 6,297 42

WAGGA WAGGA 62,799 40

NARRANDERA 5,961 64

COOTAMUNDRA 7,749 100

LEETON – YANCO 11,595 94

COOLAMON 4,308 -

Total 104,759 -

Table 1: LGA Statistical Comparison


Outside the primary centre of Coolamon are the smaller settlements within the Shire,

each of which has a distinct character and role in providing local services and acting as a

focus for community activities of various kinds. Current (2016 Census) populations of

these centres are as follows:

Town/Village Population

Ardlethan 364

Ganmain 614

Beckom 218

Marrar 169

Matong 305 Table 2: Coolamon LGA Towns and Villages Population (ABS) Figures

1.2 Introduction

Coolamon Shire Council currently has a waste strategy in place for the Local

Government Area (LGA). The Strategy was created in 2006 and has become outdated

and needs to be updated to reflect changes in waste and resource management

practices and needs. Council has recognised the need and benefits associated with

undertaking a review of the 2006 Strategy in order to consider the future strategic

direction for improving waste management and resource recovery practices in the Local

Government Area and align it with both the NSW Waste Avoidance and Resource

Recovery Strategy 2013 – 21 (WARR Strategy) and the REROC Regional Waste

Management and Resource Recovery Strategy (2014 – 2021).

This Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy (Strategy) demonstrates

Councils commitment to adopting and undertaking a strategic approach to waste

management and resource recovery on behalf of the community it serves. Having been

developed according to the Environment Protection Authority’s 2014 guidelines, the

Strategy is also consistent with the State Government’s NSW Waste Avoidance and

Resource Recovery Strategy 2013 – 21 (WARR Strategy) and sets the stage for a

sustainable and strategic approach to waste management in the LGA. This strategic

approach to the way waste is managed across the LGA will support Council in not only

improving resource recovery and directing waste away from landfill but also in

addressing the increased costs associated with waste management.

Implementation of this Strategy can assist Council in:

Improving recycling and resource recovery rates;

Reducing contamination of recyclables;

Reducing waste going to landfill;

Achieving cost savings;

Delivering educational campaigns to improve waste management behaviour; and

Achieving higher environmental standards.


Waste management and resource recovery in particular, has been a major challenge for

many Councils in the region. Many Councils are geographically large, sparsely

populated, and rural/remote in nature. The low volumes of waste generated in rural

townships and large travel distances have hindered the aggregation of waste materials

for recycling and the rationalising of landfill operations. The Strategy explores options for

addressing current waste management challenges and for introducing effective and

sustainable waste and resource recovery practices across the LGA.

1.3 Legislative and Policy context

1.3.1 National legislation and policy

National Waste Policy

The Commonwealth Government has limited constitutional powers to engage directly in

domestic waste management issues with local governments. This responsibility rests

largely with State, Territory and Local governments. However, the Commonwealth

Government has taken on a strategic involvement in waste policy development, releasing

the 2009 National Waste Policy: Less Waste, More Resources.

The broad aims of the policy are to:

Avoid the generation of waste;

Reduce the amount of waste for disposal;

Manage waste as a resource;

Ensure that waste treatment, disposal, recovery and re –use is undertaken in a

safe, scientific and environmentally sound manner; and

Contribute to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy conservation

and production, water efficiency and the productivity of the land.

The National Waste Policy Implementation Plan outlines the roles and responsibilities of

all levels of governments in working towards achieving sixteen priority waste strategies.

These strategies include reducing biodegradable organic material sent to landfill,

improving the reuse of C & I waste streams, removing impediments to the development

of effective markets for recovered resources, improving certainty and reducing costs for

investment in waste infrastructure.

Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes

At a national level, select waste streams are also managed through a number of

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. EPR schemes aim to minimise waste

generation and maximise recycling by having manufacturers take responsibility for the

impact that a product’s lifecycle has on the environment.

Although participation in EPR schemes is generally voluntary, the majority of them are

funded or supported by government in various ways. A number of EPR schemes are

operating in Australia (Table 3). One such scheme is DrumMUSTER which Coolamon

Shire Council participates in and ensures the provision of collection points at Council

landfills for used drums. The Waste Oil Collection Program is another EPR scheme that


Council participates in which collected over 4000L of leftover waste oils from the

Coolamon LGA in 2015. Council also participates in the E Waste (Computer and

Electronic waste program) that has resulted in a large quantity of E Waste being diverted

from landfills for recycling.

Councils are required to support EPR programs implemented by the Commonwealth

and/or State Governments and are expected to assist in their implementation at a local

level. The most recent EPR Scheme to be put in place in Australia is the National Tyre

Product Stewardship Scheme, which was established in January 2014. The State

Government will implement in NSW the Containers Deposit Scheme, scheduled for

implementation in December 2017.

Waste Type Waste of Concern

Type of Scheme

Scheme Description

Packaging Yes Co-regulatory

Australian Packaging Covenant 2010 applies to any ‘brand owner’ of a product. Signatories are required to prepare action plans and demonstrate continual improvement to reducing packaging waste.

Mobile Phones

Yes Voluntary MobileMuster is funded by telecommunications carriers and handset brand owners through a 42c levy on each handset sold.

Agricultural and veterinary chemicals and drums

Yes Voluntary ChemClear and DrumMUSTER are operated by AgStewardship Australia. The program has been operation since 2003, and is funded by a 4c per L (or kg) levy collected under the Industry Waste Reduction Scheme.

PVC Yes Voluntary The PVC Product Stewardship Program is an industry led scheme by the Vinyl Council of Australia.

Used Oils and Lubricants

Yes Regulated The Product Stewardship for Oil program was the first, and until recently, only regulated product stewardship scheme run by the Australian Government.

Tyres Yes Voluntary The National Tyre Product Stewardship Scheme is administered by Tyre Stewardship Australia. The scheme will place a 25 cent levy on tyres to increase domestic tyre recycling, expand the market for tyre-derived products and reduce the number of end-of-life tyres that are sent to landfill, exported as bailed tyres or illegally dumped.

Mercury Containing Lamps

Yes Voluntary The FluoroCycle Program is a government and industry initiative to increase recycling of mercury-containing lamps from the


commercial and lighting sector. The program is funded by the Commonwealth, which has engaged Lighting Council Australia to manage the program.

Computers and Televisions

Yes Co-regulatory

National Television and Computer Stewardship Scheme, importers, manufacturers and suppliers of new TVs and computers will meet their product stewardship obligations by either becoming a member of an approved ‘Product Stewardship Organisation’ arrangement of seek approved arrangement administrator status as an individual company.

Newspapers No Voluntary EPR scheme run by the Publishers National Bureau since 1990.

Source/Notes a) As identified by the Environmental Protection and Heritage Council and the

2007 NSW EPR Priority Statement (http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/resources/warr/101012EPRrpt.pdf)

Table 3: EPR schemes in Australia

1.3.2 State legislation and policy

The NSW State Government’s waste management framework aims to provide a

consistent regulatory and policy approach to minimise harm to the environment and

encourage waste avoidance and resource recovery. To achieve this, the NSW State

Government uses a combination of legislation, policy, strategy, educational and

economic tools (Table 4).

The NSW Government administers the waste regulatory framework through the state’s

primary environment protection legislation, the Protection of the Environment Operations

(POEO) Act 1997, together with the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR)

Act 2001 and the Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005.

This regulatory framework contains the requirements for managing, storing, transporting,

processing, recovering and disposing of waste.

Since 2005, the Government has implemented a levy on landfill waste as a regulatory

measure to drive waste avoidance and resource recovery by providing an economic

incentive to reduce waste disposal and stimulate investment and innovation in resource

recovery technologies. The Waste and Environment Levy (also known as the Section 88

or s.88 levy) is charged at the gate of landfills that operate in ‘regulated areas’ – the

Sydney Metropolitan Area, the Extended Regulated Area and the Regional Regulated

Area. ‘Non-regulated areas’ are termed ‘Rest of NSW’ and include the Coolamon Local

Government Area.

Effectively the waste levy is a tax payed by the waste generator and collected by landfill

operators, on behalf of the NSW government. Funds collected are allocated to the state’s

http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/resources/warr/101012EPRrpt.pdf


general revenue, and some portion is earmarked for reinvestment in the waste sector

and for increasing waste diversion from landfill.

Legislation Policy and Strategy Guidelines

Environmental Planning and Assessment (EP&A) Act 1979

Protection of Environment Operations (POEO) Act 1997

Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Act 2001

Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005

Protection of Environment Operations (Waste) Amendment (Residue Wastes) Regulation 2005

Draft Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery (WARR) Strategy 2013-2021

Extended Producer Responsibility Priority Statement 2010

Waste Reduction and Purchasing Policy

Waste Less Recycle More Initiative 2013

NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2013-15

NSW Energy form Waste Policy Statement 2014

Environmental Guidelines: Solid Waste Landfills, 1996

Environmental Guidelines Use and Disposal of Biosolid products, 2000

Environmental Guidelines: Composting and Related organics Processing Facilities, 2004

Good Practice Performance Measures for Kerbside Recycling Programs, 2004

Reducing Contamination of Dry Recyclables and Garden Organics at Kerbside, 2007

Crackdown on Illegal Dumping: Handbook for Local Government, 2007

Guidelines for Conducting Household Kerbside Residual Waste, Recycling and Garden Organics Audits in NSW Local Government Areas, 2008

Waste Classification Guidelines, 2009

Preferred Resource Recovery Practices by Local Councils Best Bin Systems, 2012

Table 4: NSW Waste Legislative, Regulatory and Policy Framework

The management of waste is a key priority for the NSW State Government. Waste

related goals in ‘NSW 2021: A plan to make NSW number one’ include achieving

recycling targets as a key priority (‘Goal 23’), as well as reducing litter (‘Goal 23’),

reducing illegal dumping (‘Goal 22’), and supporting community recycling drop off centres

to improve the management of household hazardous wastes (Goal 23).


NSW released its first waste strategy in 2003. It was subsequently updated in 2007 and

again in 2013. The 2014 WARR Strategy is one of the key policy tools being used to

meet a number of waste management goals, including the updated targets for reducing

waste to landfill (Table 5).

Waste Type NSW 2010-11 Diversion

2014 Diversion Targets

2022 Diversion Targets

MSW recycling 52% 66% 70%

C & I recycling 57% 63% 70%

C & D recycling 75% 76% 80%

Overall diversion from landfill

n/a n/a 75%

Table 5: NSW recycling rates and diversion from landfill targets

Overall, the 2014 WARR Strategy sets the strategic agenda for recycling and waste

avoidance in NSW. It is designed to provide a continuing framework that will guide

actions to achieve the NSW State Government’s policy objectives of minimising

environmental harm from waste generation, and conserving and maximising resource

use. The WARR Strategy establishes targets for six key result areas that have been

identified as waste management priorities in NSW (Table 6).

Key Result Area Target

1 Avoid and reduce waste generation By 2021-22 reduce the rate of waste generation per capita

2 Increase recycling By 2021-22 increase recycling rates for: - MSW from 52% in (2010-11) to 70% - C&I from 57% (in 2010-11) to 70% - C&D from 75% (in 2010-11) to 80%

3 Divert more waste from landfill By 2021-22 increase waste diverted from landfill from 63% to 75%

4 Manage problem waste better By 2021-22 establish or upgrade 86 drop off facilities or services for managing household problem waste state wide

5 Reduce litter By 2016-17 reduce the number of litter items by 40% compared to 2011-12 levels and then continue to reduce litter items to 2021-22

6 Reduce illegal dumping Implement the NSW Illegal Dumping Strategy 2013-15. By 2016-17 establish baseline data to allow for setting targets

Table 6: WARR Strategy key result area and targets

Waste Less Recycle More

The NSW EPA’s Waste Less Recycle More (WLRM) initiative is funded by revenue

raised by the landfill waste levy and aims at improving waste management and resource

recovery practices to achieve the targets set out in the WARR Strategy. The most recent


reiteration or program extension of the WLRM initiative provides for a total of $337 million

over a 4 year period to 2021 to be invested directly into waste related activities.

The second round or program extension will ensure that funding is available for:

Local Government Waste and Resource Recovery Program

Illegal Dumping Prevention and Waste Enforcement Fund

Household Problem Waste

Waste and Recycling Infrastructure Fund

Organics Infrastructure Fund and Program

Litter Prevention and Enforcement Fund

Business Recycling Program

Recycling Innovation Fund

Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authorities programs

Coolamon Shire Council will seek to take advantage of the grant funding extension which

will open in July 2017 and will investigate funding opportunities to support the initiatives

contained within this strategy.

The WLRM initiative includes a Local Government Waste and Resource Recovery

program that will provide $5 million to support regional and rural local councils with

landfill consolidation and closure, building and upgrading of transfer stations, and

environmental improvements to small landfills servicing rural communities. Coolamon

Shire Council will investigate opportunities to source funding under this stream to support

the potential closure of the Coolamon Landfill and conversion of the landfill to a waste

transfer station.

1.3.3 Relevant Regional Strategies

The Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) established the

REROC Waste Forum in 1997 to undertake regional projects that addressed waste

management and resource recovery issues.

In 2014, REROC in consultation with member councils, of which Coolamon Shire Council

is one, developed a Regional Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy

(2014-2021). The Strategy built on the Waste Forum’s Strategic Plan 2012-2015. The

Plan focused on six (6) key themes:

Theme 1: Making it easier for households to separate and recover their waste.

Theme 2: Making it easier for businesses to separate and recover their waste.

Theme 3: Reducing or removing problem wastes to improve resource recovery and

produce environmentally safe recyclable materials.

Theme 4: Facilitating investment in waste infrastructure.

Theme 5: Reducing litter and combating illegal dumping.

Theme 6: Education for Sustainability.


Coolamon Shire Council supports the Vision, Mission, Strategic Themes and Objectives

that are contained within the Regional Waste Management and Resource Recovery

Strategy.

2. THE CURRENT SITUATION

2.1 Coolamon population and demographic information/snapshot

Major Town:

Coolamon

Other Towns and Villages:

Ardlethan, Beckom, Ganmain, Marrar, Matong

Area:

2,430 sq kms

Population:

4,233

Median Age:

43 years

Number of Households:

1,790, average people per household 2.6

Median Household Income:

$857 per week

Major Industries:

Agriculture and farming

Employment:

21.7% worked in Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming. Other major industries of

employment included School Education 6.3%, Local Government Administration 3.4%,

Tertiary Education 2.6% and Road Freight Transport 2.2%.

ABS (2013c). 2011 Census QuickStats Coolamon. Australian Bureau of Statistics.

NSW Statistical Local Area Population Projections 2006 - 2036 show that overall annual

rate of population growth in Coolamon is expected to decline in the future with a

decrease in population projected. The Coolamon population is expected to decrease by

10.4 % in the period 2011 – 2036.


2.2 Waste and resource recovery collection systems

Coolamon Shire Council provides a kerbside residual waste and kerbside recycling

collection service in all towns and villages within the Shire.

Council also introduced a compulsory weekly FOGO collection service to the towns of

Coolamon (2012) and Ganmain (2015). The introduction of a FOGO collection service to

remaining towns and villages will be investigated as a component of this strategy.

COUNCIL RESIDUAL WASTE RECYCLING FOGO

Bin Size Frequency Bin Size Frequency Details NARRANDERA 240 L Weekly 240 L Fortnightly No service WAGGA WAGGA

120 L Weekly 240 L Fortnightly Green Waste only

JUNEE 120 L Weekly 240 L Fortnightly No service TEMORA 240 L Weekly No

service N/A No service

BLAND 120 L Weekly 240 L Fortnightly No service Table 7: Council household collection services for Adjoining LGA’s

At present, there are no local operators or facilities to process recyclable or organic

waste in the LGA. Kerbside recyclables are collected and transported to a Materials

Recovery Facility (MRF) in Cootamundra (Elouera Recycling Centre). Collected residual

household waste is disposed at one of the Council owned landfills. To reduce landfill

space consumption, organic waste is source separated and collected at landfills and is

generally burnt on site or utilised with a Council compost program for street trees and

gardens within the LGA.

Council also provides opportunities for households within the LGA to recycle various

materials at local landfill sites via its participation in Extended Producer Responsibility

Schemes or through the Community Recycling Centre at the Coolamon Landfill Site.

Waste and Resource Recovery:

Kerbside Collections:

Residual: Landfilled at Ardlethan, Coolamon, Ganmain, Marrar

Recyclables: Processed at the Elouera MRF at Cootamundra

Greenwaste and Food Waste: Composted at the Coolamon Landfill

Landfills and Transfer Stations: Ardlethan, Coolamon, Ganmain and Marrar

Total Waste to Landfill p.a: 700 tonnes

E-waste: free drop off at Coolamon Landfill

Waste Oil: waste oil collection facility at Coolamon and Ardlethan landfills

Waste Processors and Services

Composting Facility – operated by Council at the Coolamon landfill site only


Collection Contractor: Haycon Environmental Services

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Table 8: Resource recovery collection services offered by Coolamon Shire Council (2016/2017)

2.3 Waste and resource recovery volume data

Every year the NSW EPA prepares the NSW Local Government Waste and Resource

Recovery Data Report which draws together data and information from councils about

domestic waste and recycling from their kerbside, drop off and clean-up services.

The 2012-13 report findings indicated that:

The average NSW household generated 23.6 kg of waste a week, consisting of

5.1 kg of recyclables, 5.3 kg of food and garden organics and 11.7 kg of landfill

waste.

The average person in NSW generated 9.2 kg of waste a week, down from 9.4 kg

the previous year.

NSW households generated a total of 3.47 million tonnes of waste, sending 2.02

million tonnes to landfill and recycling the remaining 1.45 million tonnes.

The overall recycling rate for household waste dropped slightly to 46.5 per cent,

compared to 47 per cent in 2011/12

A total of 716 tonnes of domestic waste and 316 tonnes of recyclables were collected

from households in the Coolamon LGA in 2012/13. As Coolamon Shire Council uses

kerbside recycling bins extensively and has a well-established and long running waste

management system that focuses heavily on waste diversion from landfill, the household

resource recovery rate within the LGA was 33.5%. These resource recovery rates have

been reported to the EPA by Council and were obtained from the NSW Local

Government Waste and Resource Recovery Data Report 2012-2013.

2.3.1 Waste trends and projections

Waste generation in Australia has a positive correlation with total population. As

Coolamon Shire Council is expected to experience a decrease in population growth in

the future there is also likely to be a decrease in waste generation.

2.3.2 Waste composition and performance

Residual Waste Stream


Mike Ritchie & Associates (MRA) were engaged by the Riverina Eastern Regional

Organisation of Councils (REROC) in September 2013 to conduct a program of waste

audits across the region. For the Coolamon Shire this audit comprised of:

An audit of domestic kerbside residual waste, recycling, and food and garden

organics bins in the Coolamon Shire Local Government Area (LGA).

The results of the audit indicated that:

On average each household in Coolamon generated 5.41 kilograms of residual

waste per week. This equates to approximately 281.32 kilograms per household

per year based on 52 weeks per year and assuming an equal mean weekly

generation rate.

Audit results indicate that leakage of recyclable material to the residual waste bin

was high as comingled recyclable material accounted for 25.80% of the residual

waste stream by weight. This figure is 3.69% above the NSW state average of

22.11% (NSW EPA, 2013).

The food loading in the residual waste bin (2.17 kg/household/week or 38.85% by

weight) was higher than might have been expected given that residents in the

Coolamon township have a FOGO bin.

Results suggested that 41.03% of the residual waste stream was compostable

material consisting of mainly food (38.85%). Overall the results indicate that

78.85% of the Coolamon domestic residual waste stream by weight was

potentially recyclable material.

2.3.3 Kerbside waste service

Council provides domestic kerbside waste collection services to all households across

the LGA. All households are provided with weekly residual (140 Litre MGB) and

fortnightly comingled recycling (240 Litre MGB) collection services. Since October 2012,

households in Coolamon and since July 2015, households in Ganmain have also been

provided with a fortnightly food and garden organics (240 Litre MGB) kerbside collection

service. At present the total number of kerbside waste services provided in the Shire is

approximately 1,651 residual waste (including 56 commercial services), 1,613 comingled

recycling, and 1,162 food and garden organics (FOGO) services. During the 2012-13

financial year an estimated total of 728 tonnes of residual waste, 255 tonnes of recycling,

and 198 tonnes of garden organic material was collected via the Shire’s domestic

kerbside waste services.

2.4 Waste and resource recovery collection, processing and disposal contracts

One independent waste contractor has been engaged by Council to provide waste

collection services. The collection contract provides for collected household residual

waste to be taken directly to local landfills for disposal with recyclables being taken to the

Elouera recycling facility in Cootamundra. Table 9 outlines the collection and disposal

arrangements for Council.

Location Waste Type Collection Method

Frequency Disposal


Ardlethan Residual Kerbside Weekly Ardlethan Landfill

Recycling Kerbside Fortnightly Elouera Recycling

FOGO N/A N/A N/A

Beckom Residual Kerbside Weekly Ardlethan Landfill


FOGO N/A N/A N/A

Coolamon Residual Kerbside Weekly Marrar Landfill


FOGO Kerbside Fortnightly Coolamon Landfill

Ganmain Residual Kerbside Weekly Ganmain Landfill


FOGO Kerbside Fortnightly Coolamon Landfill

Marrar Residual Kerbside Weekly Marrar Landfill


FOGO N/A N/A N/A

Matong Residual Kerbside Weekly Ganmain Landfill


FOGO N/A N/A N/A Table 9: Coolamon LGA Collection and Disposal Arrangements

2.5 Existing and future waste and recycling infrastructure within the LGA

CURRENT WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE

Location Days Time Waste Streams

Ardlethan Landfill Newell Highway, Ardlethan

Sunday Wednesday & Friday

9am – 1pm 1pm – 5pm

Residual waste

Green waste

Timber

DrumMUSTER

Recycling

Oil

Steel

Coolamon Landfill Dyces Lane, Coolamon

Saturday & Wednesday Monday Friday

1pm – 5pm 9am – 1pm 9am – 12pm

Residual waste

Green waste

Timber

DrumMUSTER

Recycling

Oil

Steel

Batteries

E-waste

Paint


Gas bottles

Fire extinguishers

Ganmain Landfill Grave Street, Ganmain

Saturday & Wednesday Monday & Tuesday


Residual waste

Green waste

Timber

Recycling

Steel

Marrar Landfill Easticks Lane, Marrar

Tuesday Friday


Residual waste

Green waste

Timber

Recycling

Steel Table 10: Coolamon LGA Waste Infrastructure

Resource recovery practices at Councils landfills are relatively consistent across the

Local Government Area. The most commonly collected materials for recovery are metals,

cardboard, paper, electronics, gas bottles, motor oil and car bodies.

All sites accept green waste, with only Coolamon processing for alternative use, and in

general the green waste that is collected is burnt when stockpiles reach a certain size. In

most instances, the green waste is burnt without being sorted and may therefore be

contaminated with waste material, in particular plastics.

A Landfill Tip Shop is currently operated at the Coolamon Tip by the Landfill Contractor.

Landfill Management Practices

The characteristics of each landfill site vary substantially. In general, Council utilises the

services of external contractors with specialised plant (compactor, excavator, bulldozer

or front-end loader/wheeled loader) to manage the landfills in consultation with landfill

operating contractors. Although the size of Council’s landfills is perhaps the most striking

difference, the method of user payment is also unique. At all sites customers who reside

within the local government area and demonstrate proof of this are not charged for use

(all residents pay a general access charge in rates), however non-residents are invoiced

for the use of the landfills.

Council recognises that there is an opportunity to improve landfill management across

the Local Government Area. Council acknowledges that some of the key risks identified

at its landfill sites include:

Vehicle and driver risks;

Green waste build-up and associated fire risk;

Clean fill and soil contamination;

Lack of litter control;

Lack of odour management;

Leachate management;

Uncovered waste leading to litter and vermin issues; and

Oil drums, batteries and chemicals being stored in unfenced areas.


An obvious environmental issue with the Shires landfills is the impact of landfill litter.

Litter is an ongoing and consistent problem at many of the landfills where daily covering

of waste is not a common practice. As a result, waste litter can be seen strewn across

landfills as well as neighbouring properties - even at landfills enclosed by 1.8 metre high

security fencing.

Figure 1: Landfill Sites and Status

Landfill Pricing

Landfills incur high operating costs per tonne of incoming waste.


In order for Council to be able to better assess the operation of its facilities, it is essential

that a system of full cost accounting for our landfills is undertaken which can then be

utilised to compare to costs at similar facilities in the region and nationally and revise and

improve on current operating procedures to look for savings and cost efficiencies.

The costs associated with the operation of Council’s landfills in 2015/16 are presented

below:

Item Expenditure $

Item Income $

Landfill Site Expenditure

194, 858.30 Landfill Sites Income

103,389.07

Net Landfill Operating Costs

91,469.23

Waste Collection Expenditure

340,173.36 Waste Collection Income

493,159.98

Total Net Waste Collection Income

152,986.63

Total Net Waste Management Operating Costs (Profit)

61,517.40

Table 11: Coolamon LGA Waste Management Costs

There are definitely opportunities to reduce councils operating costs through achieving

economies of scale by converting small landfills to transfer stations which can assist in

also reducing the environmental risks associated with operating a waste disposal site.

Transfer Stations

Traditionally Council and indeed local government in general within the region, have

favoured the construction of landfills over transfer stations. Transfer stations can provide

opportunity to stockpile and store waste materials (metals, green waste, and batteries

etc.) and transfer them to sites more suitable for the disposal of waste.

Given the high cost and potential environmental issues associated with operating

landfills, Council acknowledges the benefits in investigating opportunities to convert

landfills into transfer stations and use them to transport waste to larger, better managed,

landfills.

It is acknowledged that Councils that decide to convert landfills to transfer stations and

transport waste to more cost effectively operated landfills also stand to save considerable

amounts. The average industry cost of operating a transfer station is $25 per tonne, a

significantly lower cost than that of most landfills in the region.

Basic ‘drive-up and tip-off’ transfer stations could operate as an alternative to landfills

and allow people to drop waste into large suitably sized skip bins that are then

transported to a nearby landfill. Modelling has shown that the cost of transporting the

waste would be offset by the savings in operating the landfill (refer to Appendix A –

Model Transfer Station Design).


3. THE FUTURE

3.1 Vision for the strategy

An efficient, cost-effective, sustainable approach to waste management that improves resource

recovery across the local government area.

3.2 Strategic outcomes

The key strategic outcomes that Coolamon Shire Council is aiming to achieve through

development of this long term Strategy are to:

Make a positive contribution towards the achievement of NSW’s WARR Strategy

targets;

Reduce the amount of waste that is being directed to landfills;

Improve and increase current services for household recycling and organics

collection;

Provide community education on best practice waste management; and

Provide a sustainable and healthy environment through reducing the incidences of

litter, illegal dumbing, and number of landfills across the region.

3.3 Targets and performance measures

To ensure that as a local government area, Council is contributing towards achieving

State wide waste objectives, waste targets that are in line with the Strategy’s six key

result areas have been developed (Table 12).

WARR Strategy Key Results Areas

Coolamon Shire Council Target

Avoid and reduce waste generation Maintain residual waste generation at less than 6 kg per capita/week.

Increase recycling Aim for a resource recovery rate of 50% by 2019 and 70% by 2024.

Divert more waste from landfill Investigate the opportunity to introduce household FOGO collection to Ardlethan by 2020.

Manage problem wastes better Work with the community to promote and generate a greater use of the community recycling centre in Coolamon. Establish the Coolamon Landfill site as a Container Deposit Collection Point.

Reduce litter Establish a baseline, if possible for 2019 and reduce the incidence of litter by 10% by 2021.

Reduce illegal dumping Establish a baseline, if possible for 2019 and reduce the incidence of illegal dumping in the LGA by 10% by 2021.

Table 12: Council waste strategy targets


4. HOW DO WE GET THERE?

4.1 Identifying delivery mechanisms

The success of this Strategy is dependent on identifying the appropriate mechanisms to

achieve Councils nominated targets. Identifying suitable delivery mechanisms requires

consideration of different options and an evaluation of the contribution that those options

will make towards putting in place realistic actions that can be achieved.

From the list of possible delivery mechanisms (Table 13), Council has prioritised options

that will be implemented as part of an Action Plan (Section 5.1).

Area for Change Opportunities Transfer Station Investigate opportunities to close the Coolamon Landfill

Site and convert into a transfer station Model transfer station design Potential for installing weighbridge

Landfill Management Landfill rationalisation review Management of Landfill – Contractor Vs Employees Model landfill closure plan Landfill compaction rate study

Organics Collection and Management

Extension of FOGO collection services Composting opportunities Promotion of home composting Food/protein processing Green waste marketing plan

Resource Recovery Kerbside collection services Increased recovery rates through education Community recycling centre – greater use through education and awareness Household hazardous waste service – extension of current service Public place recycling bin opportunities Bin audits Tyre recycling E - waste collection Mattress collection Container Deposit Scheme Collection Agency

C and I and C and D Resource Recovery

Onsite separation for C & I / C & D Small and medium businesses C & I recycling Hard plastic recycling

Other Illegal dumping Littering Asbestos Plastic bag ban/reduction Bulky waste collections

Table 13: Options of potential opportunities

The Strategy Action Plan includes further opportunities that have the potential to

successfully address the key criteria presented in Figure 2.


Figure 2 Criteria for assessing suitable actions

4.2 Theme One: Avoid and reduce waste generation

Target: Maintain residual waste at Less than 6 kg per capita/week

In the periods 1996-97 and 2006-07, the volume of waste produced per person in

Australia grew at an average annual rate of 5.4%. In efforts to reduce this statistic

communities must implement strategies that reverse the trend. The NSW Governments

WARR Strategy recognises waste avoidance as its first key result area.

At present the Coolamon Local Government Area produces less than 5.5 kg of kerbside

waste per capita. This is less than the overall NSW average of 9.4kg per capita. To

maintain and even improve on this current level it is important that education and

communication programs be devised that encourage waste avoidance, reuse and

reduction in the LGA.

Council is committed to continuing to provide programs such as –

Garden Smart

Workshops, Kindy Kits and

No Waste in My Lunchbox

Council also commits to Identifying and participating in REROC recommended waste

avoidance and management programs and initiatives that could be implemented within

the LGA.

4.3 Theme Two: Increase Recycling


Target: Achieve a resource recovery rate of 50% by 2020 and 70% by 2024

Council’s resource recovery rate of 33.5 % is low compared to the 2011-12 NSW

average of 47%. This Strategy aims to improve the overall recycling practices amongst

households through education programs.

Council aims to take a staged approach to improve its resource recovery rate to 50 % by

2020 and 70% by 2024. Improving the current resource recovery rate by 14% will put

Council in line with the NSW State average of 47%. This is considered achievable

through improved community education practices. An additional longer term plan by

Council may be to introduce a FOGO collection service to Ardlethan which would further

increase resource recovery rates.

The quantity of C & I and C & D waste entering landfills in the Coolamon LGA is

unknown. Currently, there is little incentive to decrease C & I waste from entering

Council’s landfills.

While Council has chosen not to set a specific target for reducing C & I and C & D waste

in the region, a number of actions for improving recycling rates have been identified and

are outlined in Table 14.

Option Incentive Pricing By increasing landfill gate fees to reflect the true

cost of landfilling Councils would have a direct and immediate effect in driving more tonnes toward recycling rather than landfill and encourage recycling in the C & I sector.

Council Development Application Requirements

In line with EPA guidelines, Councils can introduce Site Waste Minimisation and Management Plans as a condition of DA approvals for developments to impose a commitment for diverting Waste from landfill.

Table 14: Strategies for improving C & I and C & D recycling

Target: Council Established as a Collection Agency for NSW Container Deposit

Scheme

The NSW Government's Container Deposit Scheme will roll out across the state from 1

December 2017.

Under the NSW Container Deposit Scheme (CDS), people will be able to return eligible

beverage containers for recycling in exchange for a 10‑cent refund. A network of

collection depots will open across NSW to receive empty beverage containers and

deliver the 10-cent refund. Collection depots are dedicated locations where the 10-cent

refund can be issued for eligible containers.

Council seeks to become a collection agency under the scheme which will assist with

managing recyclables within the LGA and provide an income stream for the management

of recyclables. Infrastructure and operational considerations will need to be investigated

by Council to ensure that the scheme can be effectively and efficiently managed.

4.4 Theme Three: Divert More Waste from Landfill


Target: Introduce household FOGO collection service to Ardlethan by 2020

At present Council provides a household organics collection service to the towns of

Coolamon and Ganmain. The introduction of a household organics collection bin

provides for the following opportunities:

1. Increased waste diversion

Introducing a FOGO collection bin diverts more waste from landfill than a kerbside

recycling bin as the potentially recoverable content in residual bins is mostly organic. On

average, the content of a residual bin is made up of 40% food waste, 11% garden waste

and 23% dry recyclables.

Further, 9% of the dry recyclable content is generally made of paper and cardboard this

organic material can be placed in the organic recycling bin to decompose, thereby

increasing the total diversion rate from a residual waste bin to 60%.

2. More affordable collection service

Organic windrow composting facilities offer affordable low technology option for

processing organics within the LGA. Moreover, the resulting compost can also be sold

and used locally.

Council is committed to exploring the opportunity of providing a FOGO collection service

to the township of Ardlethan and to investigate opportunities for greater and more varied

use of the organic waste that is currently converted into compost at the Coolamon landfill

site.

4.5 Theme Four: Manage problem wastes better

Target: Promote the use of the community recycling centre in Coolamon

Council is committed to improving the collection and recycling opportunities available

within the LGA for managing hazardous and problem wastes and diverting these wastes

streams from landfill. The six problem wastes identified by council are batteries, tyres,

lights, gas cylinders, electronic waste, oil and paint.

At present, services for the collection and disposal of hazardous and problem waste is

limited to the collection of plastic drums, gas cylinders, E – Waste, paint and oil at some

landfill sites. While Council does provide the opportunity for a limited number of waste

streams to be stockpiled and source separated, the overall service is inadequate and the

facilities on offer are in need of improvement for both access and safety, although this

situation has recently been improved at Coolamon with the erection of the Community

Recycling Centre.

The current programs that Council participates in and future options to consider to

manage hazardous and problem waste are outlined in Table 15. Council currently

participates in both DrumMUSTER and ChemClear. DrumMUSTER is relatively well

supported in the LGA and Council provides collection points at its Ardlethan and

Coolamon landfill sites. The ChemClear program requires farmers to register their

property as sites for the annual pickup of chemicals. There appears to be an opportunity


for Council to provide further support for the program to increase community

participation.

Program Details

DrumMUSTER A national program for collection of empty chemical drums – currently residents are able to drop their eligible empty containers off at the Ardlethan and Coolamon landfills.

ChemClear A national program that provides yearly collection of unwanted chemicals.

Household Chemical CleanOut

Scheduled program operated in NSW and held at different locations across the State for household quantities, up to a maximum of 20 litres or 20 kilograms of a single item. Items that may be collected include solvents, and household cleaners, fluorescent globes and tubes, paint, household chemicals, car batteries, motor oils, fuels and fluids.

Community Recycling Centres

The WARR Strategy has set a target of establishing 86 community recycling centres in NSW. The Coolamon landfill has recently had one of these community recycling centres constructed on the site and it is now open for residents to dispose of problem household wastes.

Table 15: Hazardous and problem waste service options

As Household Chemical CleanOut events are organised by the EPA, Council can only

really participate when State funding has been allocated to the region.

In recent efforts to improve the management of problem waste in the LGA Council with

EPA funding has established a community recycling drop off centres at the Coolamon

landfill site. The community recycling centre, whilst only recently established has served

to assist households to recycle and remove problem wastes from kerbside bin systems.

4.6 Theme Five: Reduce the incidence of litter

Target: Establish a baseline and reduce the incidence of litter by 10% by 2021

The WARR Strategy sets a NSW state target to reduce the number of litter items by 40%

compared to 2011- 12 levels by 2016-17. Preventing the occurrence of litter is a prime

objective for the NSW EPA. Amongst other factors people generally litter because they

do not regard the material as being litter, they cannot find a bin, there is a lack of social

pressure to do the right thing, or there is an absence of penalties to prevent littering.

According to the EPA, the most common forms of litter include cigarette butts, small

pieces of paper, chip and confectionary wrappers, fast-food packaging materials, bottle

caps, plastic straws, glass pieces, glass alcohol bottles, and soft drink bottles.

Throughout NSW, litter is increasingly being viewed as an environmental issue and

cause for serious concern, rather than simply an aesthetic issue.

To reduce the incidence of litter in the LGA, Council has installed public place bins on

major streets and parks and on roadside stops. Installation of litterbins reduces the cost

to Council associated with cleaning litter, provides an extra service to the community,

and assists in improving waste management practices.


As the cost of implementing and servicing public place litterbins is significantly higher

than that of household mobile garbage bins, Council is not looking to increase the

number of public place litter bins in the immediate future. Rather, the focus will be on

undertaking litter audits in identified areas to establish littering levels and implementing a

litter education public campaign to reduce the incidence of litter.

4.7 Theme Six: Reduce illegal dumping

Target: Establish a baseline and reduce the incidence of illegal dumbing by 10%

by 2021

Illegal dumping is the unlawful disposal of waste larger than litter onto land or into water

and can range in size from a small bag of garbage to illegal landfilling. Combating illegal

dumping is a key priority of the WARR Strategy as it is a constant and highly visible

problem in NSW. Parties that partake in illegal dumping often do so to avoid the

associated costs of waste disposal or effort required to follow legal waste disposal

procedures.

The community has a large part to play in combatting illegal dumping. Providing the

community with effective tools to do the right thing, ensuring that they know their legal

responsibilities regarding waste and the relevant processes for reporting illegal activities

is critical to combating illegal dumping.

Hotspots for illegal dumping are defined as sites that have had at least two incidents of

dumping in the last year.

While illegal dumping is considered prevalent across the REROC region, quantitative

evidence of the scale of the problem at a regional level is unavailable as very few

Councils keep records of illegal dumping complaints. This will hopefully change with the

recent introduction of the RID campaign (This consists of members of the public being

able to report illegal dumping online). The Coolamon LGA incorporates towns and

villages with relatively small populations, vast tracts of land and it has limited funds and

resources available to monitor and record incidents of illegal dumping. An initial step in

tackling illegal dumping in the LGA will be for Council to develop a baseline of the

problem in its LGA. Such data will assist in establishing the full extent of the issue in LGA

and setting reduction targets.


5. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

5.1 Action plan

Action Plan – Coolamon Shire Council Waste Strategy 2017 -2023

Our Vision

An innovative approach to waste management that is: efficient, cost-effective, sustainable and

improves resource recovery across the local government area.

Target

Description of Target

Key Performance Indicator

Year 2017

Year 2018

Year 2019

Year 2020

Year 2021

Year 2022

Year 2023

1 Maintain waste generation at less than 6kg per capita

Number of programs in operation

2 Achieve a regional resource recovery rate of 50% by 2020 and 70% by 2023

Proportion of household waste to landfill

3 Investigate the introduction of household FOGO Collection Service to Ardlethan and potentially implement by 2020

Viability of FOGO Service for Ardlethan Investigated and dependent on findings – implemented

4 Promote greater awareness and use of the community recycling centre in Coolamon

Number of community recycling centres built or upgraded

5 Establish a baseline and reduce the incidence of litter by 10% by 2021

Result of litter audits

6 Establish a baseline and reduce the incidence of illegal dumping by 10% by 2021

Number of reported incidents of illegal dumping


5.2 Tasks list per theme

Action Action Detail Performance Measure Timeframe Responsibility

Theme: Avoid and reduce waste generation

Participate in waste avoidance programs

Participate in the Love Food Hate Waste Campaign

Council is participating in the program

2017 or 2018 Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Participate in No Waste in My Lunch Box Campaign

Council is participating in the program

2018 Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Investigate the real cost of landfill services

Undertake full cost of landfill study that includes operating costs, capital costs, asset replacement, remediation and closure monitoring

Study completed 2020 Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Improve waste data collection

Ensure that landfill operators are capturing data Data is being collected and provided to Council on a weekly basis

Ongoing Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Seek funding to install weighbridge at Coolamon landfill/transfer station

Weighbridge installed at Coolamon site


Theme: Increase Recycling

Distribute educational resources to residents to promote improved recycling

practices

All households within the LGA are provided with educational waste recycling material on an annual basis to promote improved recycling and recovery practices

No. of households that receive educational material


Investigate and if feasible introduce a FOGO service to Ardlethan

If feasible, the township of Ardlethan is provided with a FOGO service


Participate in Container Deposit Scheme as Collection Agency

Review Mobile Collection Contract to include relevant provisions for CDS

Contract reviewed and new tender let


Investigate Landfill Management Contract options with a view to promoting cost and value efficiencies. Single, Multiple Contracts or Council Employees.

Landfill Management options investigated and preferred option enacted


CDS Operational Requirements Investigated and Implemented at Coolamon Landfill to operate as a collection agency for CDS e.g. Sorting Shed and associated infrastructure.

Collection Depot established with required infrastructure in place e.g. Erection of sorting shed



Improve waste service contract provision

Review Collection Contract Contract reviewed. 2017 Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Ensure contract provides for education awareness Education provision requirements is included in contract


Through REROC, lobby the NSW Government for a standard best practice waste collection contract template

Model contract is created 2023 Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Review opportunities to improve C & I and C & D recycling

Introduce differential landfill gate pricing for C & D materials that are suited for source separation, reuse and recycling

New pricing is introduced 2018 Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Ensure that all construction sites appropriately manage waste onsite

Monitor sites for compliance Ongoing Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Identify and put in place practices to increase resource recovery and reduce construction and demolition material from Council operations being sent to landfill

Practices are introduced Ongoing Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

Conduct regular bin audits to understand impacts of new services and education campaigns

Conduct regular audits of household kerbside bins (all streams) to confirm contamination and leakage of waste materials into incorrect streams. Such audits should be conducted at a region wide, REROC, scale to provide savings and uniformity.

One audit conducted every 3 years


Theme: Manage Problem Wastes Better

Provide and promote increased problem waste services

Participate in EPA funded Household Chemical Schemes in the LGA

Number if Chemical Cleanout Events conducted in the LGA


Promote existing product stewardship scheme for E – Waste and DrumMuster

Measured by annual volume collected


Promote greater use of the Coolamon Recycling Centre

Measured by increased volumes of materials collected


Theme: Divert More Waste from Landfill

Introduce Kerbside FOGO collection Investigate the introduction of FOGO service in

Ardlethan and if feasible - implement FOGO Service introduced 2020 Executive Manager

Development & Environmental Services


Investigate the feasibility of a regional organics collection site in consultation with REROC

If feasible – site created and Council particpation


Identify regional opportunities to improve resource recovery practices

Investigate the development of regional contracts for waste service (staggered starts)

Investigated and if feasible implemented


Investigate opportunities to purchase regional tyre shredder

Investigated and if feasible implemented


Theme: Reduce Litter

Allocate funding and resources to promote litter control

Allocate ongoing funds towards public place waste disposal initiatives

Annual funds are allocated Ongoing Executive Manager Development & Environmental Services

In association with REROC apply for funding for regional abandoned car campaign

Reduced incidence of abandoned vehicles in LGA


Theme: Reduce Illegal Dumping Allocate resources to combat illegal dumping in the LGA

Ensure that the RID Online Service is utilised Information is placed into the system


Investigate with REROC funding opportunities for a Regional Illegal Dumping Squad

Investigation conducted and if deemed appropriate funding applied for



Appendix A – Model Transfer Station Design

Opportunity

The design and implementation of a model transfer station at Coolamon Landfill

provides an opportunity for Coolamon Shire Council to rationalise existing landfill

operations by introducing an alternative arrangement to the current landfill

operations employed in the LGA.

The proposed design of a model rural transfer station is based on the NSW EPA’s

Handbook for Design and Operation of Rural and Regional Transfer Stations.

Background

Landfills within the Coolamon LGA are small, unlicensed facilities that take in under

5,000 tonnes of waste per year. Many of these landfills service towns and villages in

areas where alternative arrangements are currently unavailable.

At present, there are no transfer stations in the LGA, however, all of Council’s landfill

sites provide for areas for the stockpile and storage of metals, green waste, and

batteries while the landfill site at Coolamon also offers resource recovery for tyres,

C&D waste, gas bottles, motor oils, paint, e-waste, plastic drums, glass, and

comingled waste.

Objectives

Assist with the conversion of the Coolamon landfill site to a transfer station (to

address the issue of there being no land area available for the creation of

trenches for general waste);

Via inclusion of weighbridge accurately capture waste volumes;

Meet minimum design specifications for transfer stations;

Reduce waste management costs to Council; and

Improve existing LGA waste infrastructure.

Construction costs

Wagga Wagga City Council has recently constructed three transfer stations that

were in line with the proposed model transfer station for a cost of $50,000 per site.

This cost was based on material costs only as the Council used internal labour

resources to construct the transfer station.

The Wagga Wagga City Council design construction costs are based on a transfer

station built to the following dimensions:

A total of 30 meters in length – 10 m ramp + 10 m platform + 10m ramp;

The ramp is at a 10 degree angle;

Railway sleeper retaining wall with steel posts;

Balustrades 1 m high to Building Code of Australia requirements; and

Surface of crusher dust fill compacted.


Council has sourced through MRA consulting the following indicative costs to

demonstrate the expected price depending on the final choice of material:

a. Combination of Steel I-Beams with timber sleepers: $50,000 + crusher dust

b. Precast concrete walls (e.g. crib wall) ≈ $75,000 + crusher dust

c. Steel sheet piles: $100,000 + crusher dust

d. Fully reinforced concrete walls (cast in-situ) : $150,000 +$20,000 concrete

Therefore, the final cost for material, labour and planning is estimated to be up to

$170,000 depending on the materials used. Additional costs that have not been

accounted for include any required site planning approvals, fencing (if the site is not

already enclosed) and any additional site improvements required at the site. MRA

recommends that Council seek detailed quotes before commencing such a project.

The costs do not incorporate costings for a gatehouse and weighbridge which is

estimated up to a value of $100,000.

The design of a gatehouse and weighbridge will depend on whether a single or double weighbridge is in use, and if customers are required to be weighed on both the way in and out. Depending on Council requirements, small vehicles may not require weighing as these customers may be charged on a volume basis. Where customers are only weighed on the way in, or a dual-weighbridge is in use, then separate clearly-marked entrance and exit lanes should be provided. If a single weighbridge is planned this has the disadvantage that the gatehouse attendant will be on the opposite side of the vehicle to the driver either on the way in or out. Advantages of using a weighbridge and data recording software has the benefits of allowing:

Electronic recording of exact type and quantity of materials disposed of at each site;

Consistent application of fee charging structure through application of fees on a tonnage rather than volume basis;

Improved ability to set fees for different waste types at a level that more appropriately reflects the true cost associated with their management; and

Greater understanding of type and volume of materials requiring disposal, thus also providing increased possibility to identify opportunities for improved resource recovery.

A sketch outlining the proposed transfer station design is presented in Figure 3.


Figure 3: Model rural transfer station design

Financial Implications

A basic drive up and drive off transfer station ramp can be designed for between

$50,000 and $150,000.

Council should also consider the use of a weighbridge at the Coolamon Site so as to

enable the accurate capture of the volume of waste being transferred off site. The

cost of a weighbridge is in the vicinity of $100,000.

The cost of a basic transfer station construction and weighbridge should be weighed

by Council against the cost of purchasing additional land for the Coolamon landfill

site and the continued operation of the site against the alternative of using the Marrar

site as the site for disposal of all ‘general waste’ from Coolamon’.


Appendix B – Coolamon Landfill Sites and Life Expectancies


Appendix C – Collection Maps


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