More than 20,000 tonnes of waste has been collected across flood impacted areas of the MidCoast since clean-up efforts began over a week ago, MidCoast Council has revealed.
The haul includes 6,500 tonnes of waste that has been taken directly to the Council’s waste management centres, placing considerable pressure on the facilities.
Flood waste can currently be taken to Council’s Taree and Gloucester Waste Management Centres free of charge. The free period for the disposal of flood damaged waste at these facilities has now been extended to 20 June.
“Council’s preference is that flood waste is placed on the kerbside to be collected by Council engaged contractors. This is because waste collected from kerbsides is taken out of the area for disposal, relieving pressure on the region’s landfills,” the Council said in a statement.
“With the flood clean-up expected to generate more than the annual amount of waste taken to landfill, redirecting flood waste out of the area ensures there is capacity in the landfills for the disposal of red bin waste collected from across the region.”
The State Government has waived the waste levy – that is generally applied to all waste – for all flood waste taken to waste management centres for three months from 23 May.
This waiver will be passed on to residents disposing of flood waste while it is in place, Council said.
