A Wasted Opportunity?

Yass Valley Greens candidates have come forward with a plan to change Council’s current approach to waste collection and storage, which they argue is getting worse.

“Despite a 2016 commitment to an 80 per cent reduction in waste-to-landfill, Council has failed to do this. Landfill is actually increasing. We cannot continue this costly and polluting approach,” said Tanya Cullen, one of five Greens candidates standing at the Council elections on the 4th December.

“We need to be ready with a new approach to waste management so Yass Valley can maximise grant funding opportunities under the State Government’s new Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy,” said Tanya.

“While organic waste collections will become mandatory under the strategy, they should be just the start of a waste reduction and re-use approach in the Yass Valley.”

Some of the more proactive ideas the Greens would like to implement include restoring ‘Green Shed’ facilities at transfer stations, mobile recycling collection for non-standard recyclables, tool libraries and community recycling centres.

“Waste also presents business and tourism opportunities that Council could support,” said Tanya.

“Repair cafes, re-purposing services and tool libraries bring community and business together and help create a circular economy, while events like Junk Fest that turn trash into art can create a tourism focus for the area.”

The State Government’s strategy will also focus on roadside litter and illegal dumping.

“We know these activities are on the increase across Yass Valley and particularly in cross-border areas like Wallaroo” stated Tanya.

“This is an opportunity Yass Valley Council can’t afford to miss and we need to think outside the standard waste square to stop our waste just going to landfill” Tanya added.

• Topics:

• Local Council
• Environment
• Sustainability
• Waste Collection