Biomass Solutions and Coffs Council at odds over waste solutions
Waste company says it spent $180,000 on strategies to move forward while Council indicates they weren’t “value for money”.
Coffs Harbour
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coffs Harbour. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The company at the centre of a dispute over the region’s waste management has gone on the offensive, suggesting their attempts to move forward were stymied by Council.
Biomass Solutions, responsible for processing red bin waste in Coffs Harbour, was singled out as having made no progress in transitioning to more sustainable waste practices last week, prompting the reinstatement of a waste levy set to cost Coffs Harbour City Council $18,000 a week.
The region’s waste problems stem from a 2018 ruling by the Environmental Protection Authority declaring the organic product created from processed red bin waste was unsafe and could no longer be reused.
The levy exemption was introduced to help with the transition but two years later the waste is still being transported to Tamworth.
A spokesperson for the company said it spent more than $180,000 on developing options for Council’s consideration that were designed to increase processing of food waste and reduce the financial impacts of the 2018 law changes.
“None of the options we put forward have been accepted or progressed by Council,” the spokesperson said.
“Both parties have been aware of the exemption deadline for more than six months, and it is very disappointing that options weren’t progressed.”
Responding via a spokesperson of their own, Council said Biomass were “not correct” in asserting they were “in some way responsible” for not implementing a transition to more sustainable outcomes.
The spokesperson said both parties had engaged in regular confidential communications in an effort to resolve matters in dispute arising out of the EPA’s regulatory change in 2018.
“None of the options put forward by Biomass to Council for consideration involved diversion from landfill of the red bin waste nor did they represent value for money for ratepayers,” the spokesperson said.
“As it was clearly Biomass that was required to satisfy the EPA that it was transitioning to sustainable resource recovery outcomes, Council does not accept responsibility for Biomass‘ failure to do so – and the resulting loss of the levy exemption.”
Both parties have committed to working with one another, and the EPA, in order to find a more sustainable solution.
The dispute over responsibility comes ahead of a Council meeting which includes several items pertaining to the escalating crisis in the region’s waste processing industry.
Cr Sally Townley intends to move a notice of motion to have the Regional Waste Strategy Reference Group re-established, a body which would bring together Nambucca and Bellingen Shire Councils to discuss options for future waste strategies.
“Waste is perhaps one of the most critical issues facing CHCC and other Councils and an urgent regional meeting is overdue to discuss waste-related issues,” Ms Townley wrote.
Cr Paul Amos also intends to move a motion to have Council write to the NSW Government seeking support to identify a new, short term, tip site.
More Coverage
‘Amazed you were conscious’: Drunk as skunk driver slammed
A slurring, dishevelled Mid-North Coast council worker, who blew one of the highest blood alcohol readings a magistrate has ever seen, has been sentenced.
‘Kill yourself’: Youth worker appeals knife threat conviction
A Mid-North Coast youth worker who held a knife up to her wife and said “kill yourself” before ripping the shirt off her back when she tried to run, has launched an appeal in the district court.