This week Council endorsed the Waste and Circular Economy Strategy 2040 – Rethink. Reduce. Reuse, which will transform waste management on the Northern Beaches.
The strategy will see the Northern Beaches shift to a circular approach to waste management aimed at retaining the value of resources for as long as possible in order to benefit the environment, local business, and residents.
Some of the key directions and targets include:
- pilot a circular economy hub for repair and reuse of household items, including working with charities, community groups and other interested groups
- help the community to reduce household waste by 10% by 2030 and by 20% by 2040
- implement regular and accessible collections of electronic waste, textiles and household chemicals by 2025
- halve the amount of household food waste sent to landfill by 2030, with a phased approach to food waste collection
- provide local drop-offs or kerbside collections for the most common household plastics where there are reliable markets for the recycled products
- advocate for the phase out of single use unrecyclable plastics
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the Strategy will help Council plan for and future proof the domestic waste and litter management services to 2040.
“Council is serious about transforming waste management on the Northern Beaches to embrace a reuse, repair and recycle model; and our community is prepared to share the responsibility too.
“Our domestic waste service is Council’s largest service touching each household with up to 11 million bin collections across the local government area each year.
“Council also provides litter management, public place cleansing and prevention services to maintain the amenity of the Northern Beaches area and protect the environment.
“This strategy will guide Council and the community to work together to reduce the Northern Beaches waste footprint, meanwhile helping to create opportunities through reuse and recycling networks.
“We will be leading the way in circular economy practices and implementing innovative waste management techniques to create a cleaner, greener future for generations to come," Mayor Heins said.
The strategy was informed by extensive research and consultation over a 12-month period with the Northern Beaches community, external stakeholders, expert consultants, the Environment Strategic Reference Group and Council staff.
Many of the key actions and initiatives outlined in the strategy will commence in the first five years.
A total of 179 submissions were received during the public exhibition period in October 2023 revealing a high level of engagement and support for the draft Strategy.
To view the strategy and find out more about it, visit our website.