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| LG Focus: 5 million Containers for Change |
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| The City of Stirling has become the first Refund Point in Western Australia to process more than five million eligible containers. |
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The secret to the City’s success may very well be the efforts that have gone into expanding opportunities by providing secure bins and a dedicated collection service for local schools, community groups, businesses and sporting clubs. This has made it easier for local organisations to cash in eligible containers and receive refunds electronically.
Since the launch of Containers for Change, 43% of the containers returned at the City’s Refund Points have been aluminium followed by 27.7% glass, and 25.6% plastic.
Image Credit: City of Stirling. |
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| Read the full article here or visit the City of Stirling website to find out how you can make some change. |
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| LG Focus: Fremantle we have lift-off! |
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| The City of Fremantle Household Hazardous Waste Facility celebrated its official opening on Tuesday, 2 March. |
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The new Permanent facility, established as part of the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program, will provide members of the public with a free and safe option to drop off their hazardous materials for recycling, recovery or safe disposal. Providing a convenient option for disposal will reduce hazardous materials from being placed in kerbside bins or verge collections where they can cause significant safety issues.
The HHW Program is funded by the Waste Authority through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account and administered by WALGA.
Pictured: (Above from left to right) City of Fremantle Deputy Mayor Andrew Sullivan and Hon. Simone McGurk MLA. (Below from left to right) Waste Authority member Josh Byrne, City of Fremantle Deputy Mayor Andrew Sullivan and, Fremantle Councillor and Chair of WALGA’s Municipal Waste Advisory Council Doug Thompson. |
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For further information, email WALGA HHW Coordinator or call on (08) 9213 2062.
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| LG Focus: FOGO by the Foreshore |
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| The City of Bunbury is now trialling public place Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bins at two popular foreshore locations. |
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Since the introduction of FOGO kerbside collections in Bunbury, the City has diverted almost 60% of waste from landfill. In January this year, FOGO bins were introduced near barbecue facilities at Koombana Bay and Sykes foreshores as part of trial to see if higher rates of landfill diversion could be achieved. Bin contents will be audited to check contamination levels and after several months the City will assess the potential for FOGO bins to be permanently installed at more locations.
Pictured: Bigbelly Solar Compactors have been adopted for the City's public place FOGO trial. |
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| For more information about the trial, email the City of Bunbury or call on (08) 9792 7000. |
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| Special Opportunity at WALGA! |
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| A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced Waste Management Specialist to join WALGA to deliver a range of waste management policy positions and advocacy strategies for our WA Local Government members. |
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The role supports the Manager, Waste Management, to provide high level policy work of the Municipal Waste Advisory Council (MWAC) and perform the policy development, advocacy and project delivery roles of the Waste Policy area.
To be considered for the role, you will have:
- Good knowledge of the statutory requirements, policies and programs relevant to waste management
- Good understanding and knowledge of Local Government and its structure, functions and relationships with State and Federal Government
- Experience in researching and developing policy positions and statements
- Excellent analytical and research skills
- Strong written communication and report writing skills
- Project management skills, including priority setting and time management, ability to manage budgets
The full position description, including salary, is available here. All applications must be received by 1:00pm (AWST) Monday, 22 March. |
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| For further details on the role please call Rebecca Brown, WALGA Manager Waste and Recycling, on (08) 9213 2063. |
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| Rules for the Export of Waste Plastic |
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| Following on from the Regulating the Export of Waste Plastics Technical Discussion Paper, the Federal Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment is now seeking input from industry stakeholders on the Exposure Draft of the Recycling and Waste Reduction (Export – Waste Plastic) Rules 2021 (Plastic Rules) for the export of waste plastics and processed engineered fuel. |
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The rules for waste plastic are being implemented in two stages:
- From 1 July 2021, waste plastic will need to be sorted into a single resin or polymer type before export; processed engineered fuel that includes waste plastic will also need to meet certain requirements.
- From 1 July 2022, waste plastic will need to be further processed, for example into pellets or flakes, before export.
You can submit your feedback using an online survey, or upload a submission via the Department’s Have Your Say consultation platform. The consultation will close on Thursday, 1 April.
The Department is also conducting a webinar on Wednesday, 24 March to help people understand the Waste Plastic Rules and their context, and answer your questions. You can register your interest here. |
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| WALGA will be preparing a Submission. If you would like to provide feedback, please email Rebecca Brown, WALGA Manager Waste and Recycling, or call on (08) 9213 2063 by 5:00pm Friday, 26 March. |
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| National Plastics Plan |
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| Australia’s National Plastics Plan 2021 has just been released. |
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The Plan outlines the Federal Government’s approach to increase plastic recycling, find alternatives to unnecessary plastics and reduce the impact of plastic on the environment.
Some of the proposed initiatives include:
- Working with States and Territories governments to harmonise kerbside recycling collection
- Assessing and identifying collection processes and the feasibility of reprocessing packaging waste in remote and regional areas through partnerships
- Working with State and Territory governments to better align aspects of Container Deposit Schemes
- Referring companies making false or misleading labelling and environmental claims, such as misrepresentation of recyclability, to the ACCC for investigation.
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Full details of the National Plastics Plan 2021 are available here
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| Seeking Feedback on the Review of Wastewater Management in WA |
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| The Department of Health has released a Consultation Paper Managing public health risks from wastewater conveyance, treatment and disposal in Western Australia and has commenced consultation on the future management of wastewater. |
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This review is part of the implementation of the Public Health Act 2016 which requires the Department to review the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1911 and associated regulations.
Feedback on this Discussion Paper is due by Friday, 21 May and can be provided through an online survey.
A Submission is being prepared by WALGA. Local Governments are encouraged to contribute by providing feedback or a copy of their completed survey to Marissa MacDonald by Friday, 16 April.
WALGA is also planning to host a webinar with the Department in April which will also be an opportunity to provide comments and feedback for the WALGA submission. Further details to come. |
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| For more information or to provide feedback, contact Marissa MacDonald, WALGA Senior Policy Advisor Community, or call on (08) 9213 2074. |
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| LitterCam |
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| The town of Maidstone in Kent, England is trialling CCTV cameras to target litterbugs. |
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The new ‘LitterCam’ technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to spot evidence of littering and can even spot a cigarette butt being tossed from the window of a moving vehicle. The AI software will then match footage of motorists throwing rubbish to their car's number plate and issue an automatic fine of £90.
Image credit: BBC News UK. |
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| Watch out drivers! The full story is available here. |
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Did you know there is a Municipal Waste Advisory Council?
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| The Municipal Waste Advisory Council (MWAC) is a standing committee of WALGA with delegated authority on municipal waste issues. MWAC's membership includes the major Regional Councils (waste management), making MWAC a unique forum through which all the major Local Government waste management organisations cooperate.
MWAC members are:
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| Waste is the Word |
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Want to share your waste management successes, promote a new project, have a key question answered or collaborate with other Local Governments? We want to include your waste management issues in our next newsletter.
Please submit your content to the WALGA Waste Team. |
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| Resources |
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WALGA operates prequalified supply contracts to access goods and services at market preferential rates. We have Preferred Supplier arrangements in place for a range of Waste Management, Parks and Gardens, and Environmental services to support service deliver and sustainability within the sector.
Further information is available from the WALGA website.
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| WALGA |
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ONE70, LV1, 170 Railway Parade,
West Leederville, WA 6007
PO Box 1544, West Perth, WA 6872
Tel: (08) 9213 2000 | Fax: (08) 9213 2077
Email: info@walga.asn.au
www.walga.asn.au |
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| © Copyright Western Australian Local Government Association 2014 |
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