Hornsby Shire Mayor, Philip Ruddock AO, has called on the NSW Government to provide crucial funding and support for councils to ensure adequate waste management for their communities.
The former MP has also vowed to work with fellow Sydney councils to improve environmental outcomes of waste processing.
Reading a Mayoral Minute at last night’s meeting, Mayor Ruddock spoke of how he attended the Sydney Metro Mayoral Waste Summit, aimed at tackling the pressing challenges currently facing local governments in managing community waste.
He says there he heard how concerns remain high of a looming waste capacity crisis by 2030, with analysis undertaken for the NSW Government showing that substantial additional landfill capacity, numerous organics processing facilities and effective transport options are all required within the decade.
“Local government alone will not solve this fast-looming crisis and it is time to get all three levels of government dedicating the required attention and actions to ensure our communities waste is adequately managed,” said Mayor Ruddock.
“We invite our fellow Sydney councils to work collectively with us to reduce waste, improve environmental outcomes during waste processing and finding sustainable solutions for residual waste.
“We also urge the NSW Government to support us by investing the revenue from its waste levy for council and industry initiatives that accelerate the transition to a circular economy, build the waste infrastructure needed to meet the growing pressures of population growth, loss of landfill capacity and a lack of competition in the sector, and educate and support communities to reduce waste.”
He said a major concern for local councils is the NSW EPA’s mandate to introduce a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service for residents.
“However, insufficient organics processing capacity and uncertainty around rollout timelines pose significant hurdles for councils, resulting in $4 million-$8 million for implementation of the new service.”
“The Waste Levy imposed by the NSW Government generates approximately $800 million in revenue annually, with only 7% allocated to waste management services, and most of the funding going to other state government services,” the Mayor said.
Read Mayor Ruddock’s full Mayoral Minute at hornsby.nsw.gov.au.
