South Burnett Regional Council proposes January start for kerbside recycling

South Burnett Regional Council said packed landfills were becoming financially burdensome, and kerbside recycling would bring widespread benefit to the region - at a cost. Full report:

After nearly a decade of resisting kerbside recycling, South Burnett Regional Council has proposed to finally launch the initiative, triggering a mixed response from the community.

Mayor Brett Otto said while many still fear the ever-growing cost of living, a new demographic of people concerned about the environment could not be ignored.

“We’ve been getting a diverse array of views on this,” Cr Otto said.

“There are those who are supporting the initiative wholeheartedly and those who are concerned about the cost - mainly those facing cost of living pressures.”

“But I think what we’re also seeing is a changing demographic in our region.

“There’s a growing conscience in the broader community about caring for the environment, so we’re really wanting to respond to that.”

Cr Otto conceded the cost of landfill had become burdensome for the council, particularly the rehabilitation of landfill sites that are quickly reaching capacity.

“Recent studies have identified we could significantly reduce the amount of waste product going into landfill if we weren't able to find a recycling solution,” he said.

“We've got some of our dumps reaching the end of their life as landfill facilities, and we’re looking at a number of options for how we can actually manage the disposal of that waste.

“Our concern is that we have a number of people in the region struggling with the cost of living and we want to be sensitive to that.”

He said the money saved on landfill - as much as $300,000 - would then be reinvested back into the recycling program, limiting the cost for ratepayers to just $70 per annum to cover the cost of a contractor.

Four landfill sites and 13 transfer stations currently operate right across the South Burnett.

A council spokeswoman said a survey had recently been conducted to determine the remaining life for each of the landfill sites as of June 2022, however they are still awaiting the report.

Cr Otto said the region would have access to the “technologically advanced facility” managed by Cherbourg Aboriginal Council, which is keen to ramp up its operations to accept the broader region’s recyclables.

Kerbside recycling would be made available to about 12,000 properties across the South Burnett and would divert about 3000 tonnes a year of waste from landfill.

According to Planet Ark, more than half of Queensland’s 78 council areas still did not provide a kerbside recycling service, despite it being implemented from the 1980s. Those councils include the South and North Burnett regions, Longreach, Flinders, and Maranoa.

The council had originally investigated kerbside options in 2013, and while the survey found two-thirds of respondents were interested in the service, the majority were still hesitant of the cost.

The proposal has generated a range of reactions from residents.

Oe resident wrote on Facebook, “I think we should all do all the recycling we can for the future of our planet. None of us likes the idea of increased rates, but we need to take responsibility along with the privileges of modern life”.

Another said “It’d be great if we didn't have to pay for it. So, that’s a no from me. I’m happy to take my bottles and cans to town and have a little bit of money come back my way”.

The matter will be debated at the South Burnett Regional Council’s upcoming Special Budget Committee Meeting on July 8.

The council currently offers recycling services throughout the region, including:

• Cans/bottles – Blackbutt Transfer Station, Kingaroy Waste Facility, Murgon Waste Facility, Wondai Waste Facility and Nanango Waste Facility. Additionally, eligible containers are able to be deposited at Containers for Change Container Refund Points in the region i.e. in Cherbourg and 13 Kingaroy Street, Kingaroy.
• Batteries (car/truck) – Blackbutt Transfer Station, Kingaroy Waste Facility, Kumbia Waste Facility, Memerambi Transfer Station, Murgon Waste Facility, Nanango Waste Facility, Wattle Camp Transfer Station and the Wondai Waste Facility.
• Cardboard and paper – Blackbutt Transfer Station, Kingaroy Waste Facility, Murgon Waste Facility, Nanango Waste Facility and the Wondai Waste Facility.
• Cooking oil – Kingaroy Waste Facility.
• E-waste – Kingaroy Waste Facility, Murgon Waste Facility, Nanango Waste Facility and the Wondai Waste Facility.
• Mobile phones – designated receptacles at Council’s Customer Service Centres.
• Motor oil – Blackbutt Waste Facility, Cloyna Waste Facility, Hivesville Transfer Station, Kingaroy Waste Facility, Kumbia Waste Facility, Memerambi Transfer Station, Murgon Waste Facility, Nanango Waste Facility, Proston Waste Facility, Wattle Camp Transfer Station and the Wondai Waste Facility.
• Scrap metal – Blackbutt Waste Facility, Brigooda Transfer Station, Cloyna Waste Facility, Durong Transfer Station, Hivesville Transfer Station, Kingaroy Waste Facility, Kumbia Waste Facility, Memerambi Transfer Station, Murgon Waste Facility, Nanango Waste

Originally published as South Burnett Regional Council proposes January start for kerbside recycling