Waste Management Community Attitude Survey
Council conducted a survey on the community's attitude to waste management in June 2000 with a total of 235 surveys completed for analysis.
Analysis of the surveys indicate the following:
• 94% of respondents understand the difference between wet and dry waste.
• 85% of respondents approve of the system.
• 76% of respondents always separate, 17% sometimes separate and 5% don't (2% did not specify)
• 0-20 and 31-40 year olds are the most complacent at separating their wet and dry waste.
• 46% of respondents use either Transfer Station, mostly for domestic and greenwaste
• 69% of respondents know that disposal of domestic waste up to a trailer or ute load is free
• 88% of respondents are satisfied with their collection service.
• Respondents in the South of the Shire are less satisfied with their collection service
• 61% of respondents indicate they would participate in a composting program.
• 74% of respondents think residents need more information on waste management
Waste Management Strategy Initiatives
The Waste Management Strategy establishes a range of actions aimed primarily at reducing quantities of wastes through avoidance, reuse and recycling of the municipal, commercial, industrial, building and demolition wastes in the Shire.
Through the strategy Council, business and the general community are being asked to share the responsibilities of managing wastes to achieve a realistic waste quantity reduction of 40% based on 1999 figures
By reducing wet waste disposal quantities from the initial 7100 tonne in 1999 to 5000 tonne of wet waste per annum, Council can save $120 000 per annum. A number of initiatives have been adopted by Council to reduce this waste, and the year 2000 total was 6230 tonnes.
A pilot composting project was implemented by Council in December 1999 as a strategy to reduce wet waste volumes. Results have indicated that there is significant community support for the program and potential for cost savings over the longer term. At the end of 2000 some 950 households had joined Council's Composting program.
The community education program promotes waste avoidance by providing the information, tools and incentives necessary to reduce waste quantities. Schools and community groups have benefited by presentations from Council staff.
The adoption of waste management plans aim at a reduction in the commercial and industrial, and construction and demolition waste stream by 50%.
The introduction of a vermiculture program in the Shire for premises where compost bin installations were not viable, such as flats and multi storey dwellings, will commence in 2001 with 60 "worm farms" to be distributed.
Council provides 5 collection points in the Shire for receiving empty, clean agricultural/veterinary product containers twice yearly under the Drummuster initiative.
The annual pre-cyclone clean-up aims to reduce hazards on premises. Clean-up Australia Day is also conducted in the Shire as part of the national event held on the first Sunday of March.
