Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Sunshine Coast
Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014



Contents

Foreword ....................................................... 4 4 Domestic wastes .................................... 30
Reduction ................................................. 32
The vision ...................................................... 6 Recycling ................................................. 34
Waste to energy ....................................... 34
Executive Summary ..................................... 8 Disposal ................................................... 36

1 Overview ................................................. 12 5 Commercial and tourist facilities ......... 38
Reduction ................................................. 40
Strategy structure .................................... 14 Recycling ................................................. 40
Goal ......................................................... 16 Waste to energy ....................................... 42
Targets ..................................................... 16 Disposal ................................................... 42
Reductions targets (by weight) ................ 16
Scope ....................................................... 16 6 Self-delivered waste .............................. 44
Timeframe ................................................ 16 Reduction ................................................. 45
Review ..................................................... 16 Recycling ................................................. 45
Principles ................................................. 17 Waste to energy ........................................47
Background .............................................. 17 Disposal ................................................... 47
Domestic waste (kerbside bins)................ 18
Construction and demolition waste 7 Construction and demolition waste ..... 48
(C and D).................................................. 18 Reduction ................................................. 50
Commercial and industrial waste Recycling ................................................. 50
(CandI)...................................................... 18 Waste to energy ....................................... 51
Commercial and industrial waste Disposal ................................................... 51
(CandI)...................................................... 18
Waste recycling and waste to energy....... 19 8 Facilities ................................................. 52
Resource recovery centres ...................... 53
2 Existing facilities ................................... 20 Landfills .................................................... 54

Existing waste reduction Sustainability Park ..................................... 56
and recycling practices ............................ 21
Disposal ................................................... 22 Services ....................................................... 60
Waste disposed (2007/08) ....................... 22
Waste diverted at landfill (2007/08) ......... 22 Pricing ......................................................... 62
Anticipated trends / issues ....................... 22
Markets for recovered resources ............. 25 Governance ................................................. 64

3 Outcomes ............................................... 26 Data management ...................................... 68

Other outcomes ....................................... 28 Glossary ...................................................... 70
Community engagement........................... 28

Disclaimer © Sunshine Coast Regional Council 2009.
This report has been prepared by the Waste and Resource
Management Branch, Sunshine Coast Council, for the www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
purposes of guiding council's future waste management [email protected]
decisions. T 07 5475 7272  F 07 5475 7277
Locked Bag 72 Sunshine Coast Mail Centre Qld 4560
Information in this report is based on available data at the
time of writing. This is a strategic document which deals Acknowledgements
with technical matters in a summary way only. Council or Council wishes to thank all interested stakeholders for their
its officers accept no responsibility for any loss occasioned valuable contributions towards the development of the
to any person acting or refraining from acting in reliance Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014.
upon any material contained in this report.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 3

Foreword Cr Bob Abbot
Mayor
While modern councils have progressed from the 'roads,
rates and rubbish' days, waste minimisation remains one
of the most important tasks facing any local government. It
represents one of our largest on-going costs, a fundamental
element in our goal of sustainability and a key service by
which the Sunshine Coast Regional Council is judged by its
constituents. To be blunt, we need to get it right.
I am happy to say that I think we are moving another giant stride
towards that goal of sustainability with this Waste Minimisation
Strategy. There is a much higher priority on educating people,
helping business become more eco-efficient and using the
resources that previously went to waste in our landfills. It is a
partnership with the community and our private sector and it will
take serious effort to achieve success.
This Strategy is not about putting your bin out for council and
forgetting about it. It is about choosing products that create less
waste, taking control of your organic waste and turning it into an
asset for your garden, and ensuring that any waste that does go
in the bin is properly sorted. Our better waste management will
cost more. I guarantee that those who recycle more and waste
less will pay less than those who make no effort to separate their
wastes.
Gone are the days of dumping rubbish in a hole in the ground
and forgetting about it. That was cheap at the time, but now
that old waste is responsible for over 2/3’s of our council’s
greenhouse gases and the environmental costs will be borne for
decades…
The great news is that this Strategy clearly maps out how our
region is going to utilise previously wasted resources. To help
diversify our economy, we can use the organics that caused
greenhouse gases to employ locals, re-vitalise our soils and
even power our homes. It will be a challenge but it is one we
intend to meet with your help.
Now… let’s get on with the job. There’s no time to waste!

4 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

This council has set a goal of becoming Australia’s most Cr Keryn Jones
sustainable region. It will be a long journey but our kids and Environment
their kids will thank us. One of the most important steps in
that journey is how we manage our waste. Portfolio

The amalgamation of the three previous councils has caused
many problems but in waste, at least, it offers a significant
opportunity to capture some economies of scale which will help
make the move from a 'dump it in the ground' approach to one of
recovering and re-using resources feasible and practicable.

Like sustainability, waste management is a partnership… a
partnership with the community and a partnership with business.
The Sunshine Coast has been very fortunate in receiving the
assistance from the Waste Taskforce – Arthur Ziakas, Belinda
Hutchinson, Dr Pene Mitchell, Trish Cashin, Robert Mrozowski,
Deena Murray, Rick Ralph, Allen Jay, Rex Metcalfe, Michael
Powell and Narelle McCarthy. They, along with Cr Russell
Green, Cr Anna Grosskruetz, and Cr Christian Dickson, are to be
thanked for refining this Strategy.

I’d also like to thank the 511 members of our community who
took the time to provide their comments and suggestions on the
Discussion Paper. The ideas were great and most of them found
their way into the Strategy. They want a lot of effort on more
education and engagement and we will do that.

As you will see, the biggest change relates to how we minimise
the organics going into the landfill. Using those organics wisely
can provide more of the things we want and less of the things
we don’t want. More jobs, better soils and renewable power.
Less chemical and water use, greenhouse gas emissions and
leachate.

This new direction involves all of us, and the decisions we make
every day. It offers a lot of opportunity and requires individual
responsibility. We all need to do our bit to be successful. Please
help us make a success of this Waste Minimisation Strategy.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 5

The vision

6 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council will
be diverting over 70 per cent of its waste
from landfill.
A cost-effective and customer-focussed
service will provide choice and flexibility while
facilitating new businesses, causing less
environmental harm and generating renewable
energy.
Farmers and residents will be utilising locally
produced composts from recovered organics.
The community will be managing our
Resource Recovery Centres and specialist
waste companies will be in partnership with
the council to collect, sort, recycle and re-
manufacture.
The council will work with the State and Federal
governments to target specific problem wastes
and to regulate the system to ensure low levels
of disposal and no illegal operations.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 7

Executive summary

8 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council Our highest priorities and where we will focus
regards waste minimisation as an issue increased resourcing will be on:
at the very core of achieving its goal of
becoming Australia’s most sustainable ●● Educating and involving the community about
region. Waste will be integrated into opportunities for organics re-use at home,
council’s wider sustainability programs better recycling for homes and businesses
where appropriate. Consultation with the and the services council provides.
community indicated strong support for
this approach and a desire for far greater ●● Recovering the resources of organic waste
emphasis on educating and involving the from domestic residences that can’t be
residents in achieving the waste goal of utilised at home.
over 70 per cent diversion.
●● Setting an example by minimising council’s
This Waste Minimisation Strategy will guide wastes.
decision-making and resource priorities for the
next five years. It culminates in a new system ●● Facilitating the local value-adding to recycling
built around new collection, sorting, recycling by re-manufacturing and purchasing the
and waste to energy before less than 30 per products here on the Coast.
cent of the waste is disposed of. Council will
pursue some 'no regrets' actions such as ●● Utilising opportunities to generate renewable
community engagement and landfill up-grades energy.
while it trials new systems in partnership with a
proven waste management company. Council ●● Bringing the Resource Recovery Centres and
will determine the specifics of the new system landfills up to 'best practice' standard.
in 2012 to be ready for the next generation of
collection contracts in 2014. To reach its vision, council will choose an expert
waste manager from the private sector to work
Council intends to follow the waste hierarchy with to assess the data and develop the most
in that it will examine ways to maximise the appropriate chain of sorting, recycling and waste
highest and best uses. It will reduce the waste to energy technologies. This will be a partnership
coming to council, then attempt to recycle with a business with proven expertise in
what it can before utilising the residue for operating similar plants, and exemplary
waste to energy. Only after all these steps are environmental record. Council intends to utilise
exhausted will disposal in up-graded landfills its existing sites plus the new Sustainability Park
be considered. The 'polluter pays' principle site adjacent to the State Government industrial
will guide pricing of services with subsidies estate at Caloundra South.
available to those who recycle paid for by
increased disposal charges. The Sustainability Park is to be a focal point for
creating jobs from resources that used to be
wasted in landfill. The first facility will probably
be a composting plant to use the kerbside
garden waste to make organic fertiliser and soil
improvers.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 9

Executive summary

Council will also pursue any appropriate joint This increased customer focus shall include
initiatives across the wider SE Queensland local initiatives such as on-farm composting
region where sharing of information or of organics and involving schools and
economies of scale add value. These neighbourhoods with food and compost
opportunities are expected to lie particularly in production. Council will actively seek private
sharing waste to energy plants and landfills but investment to build re-manufacturing plants to
require clear synergies with neighbouring local make use of any resources recovered from our
governments and similar timeframes. bins and businesses.

Council will capitalise on new regional collection Council intends that the new system will be in
contracts in 2014 to marry the collection system place and ready to marry with new collection
to its new infrastructure requirements but also contracts in 2014. At that point, a new Strategy
to increase the flexibility of service provision will be prepared to manage the up-graded
to both domestic and commercial clients. The system that will be diverting 70 per cent of our
data gained from various trials will inform waste.
both the choice of infrastructure but also the
new collection contracts. Just as importantly,
the experiences and data gained from waste
reduction programs will be crucial in establishing
the volumes and nature of the waste requiring
collection under the new system in 2014.

Table 1: Major steps in delivering this strategy

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Major steps Community engagement and education Commence
operation of
Choose Data gathering Key decisions Commence AWT and WtE
commercial and analysis construction at
waste partner/s Determine Sustainability Implement
advanced Industrial Park new collection
waste sorting/ system
treatment
and waste
to Energy
technologies

Begin trial Determine Choose
collection collection collection
systems system and contractor/s
tender for
new collection
contracts

Up-grade Landfills and Resource Recovery Centres

10 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 11

1 Overview

12 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

This Strategy will prioritise the issues As the quote from Gen. McArthur indicates, this
that the Sunshine Coast Regional Council strategy will be in a constant state of review and
(SCRC) will focus efforts and resources refreshment.
to minimise wastes over the coming five
years. While there are many 'good ideas' For further explanation of the rationale and
in waste minimisation, SCRC has a duty to analysis behind the Strategy, see Attachment
its ratepayers to ensure that any funds or 1 – the Discussion Paper: “our Sunshine Coast
staff time is well-directed. It will concentrate – too good to waste” and Attachment 2 – Report
on the issues that are either causing the on Consultation.
most negative impacts or hold the greatest
potential to provide benefits for the region The most import issue facing the Coast is
in general. the diversion of organic wastes from landfill.
Given that this waste stream represents
The Strategy document will be kept as concise around half the current volumes to landfill, its
as possible. It sets out a series of processes successful diversion will help prolong the life
and actions that will evolve over the next five of our expensive assets, the landfills, whilst
years rather than a rigid set of 'silver bullets'. reducing their negative impacts of greenhouse
gas, odours and leachate. Furthermore, the
The strategy involves some sensible 'no regrets' recovered resource can provide a source of
actions like up-grading our landfills, community jobs, source of power, augmentation for our
engagement and education that run throughout. primary producers and a reduction in water
It also involves trialling some new ideas and use and pollution of our precious waterways.
analysing the data to inform a series of major Currently, residents are largely unaware of the
decisions in 2012 by council and its chosen negative consequences of organic waste going
strategic waste partner from the private sector. to landfill and this must be changed.

Those decisions will determine what This is not to say other issues will not be
technologies are chosen for waste sorting, included in an integrated approach but it must
resource recovery and waste to energy. Those be recognised that the ratepayers’ pockets are
decisions will also determine what kerbside not limitless and prioritisation of spending onto
service is required to complement that only the most cost-effective and sustainable
infrastructure. outcomes is a very important driver for this
Strategy.

“Planning is everything... the plan is nothing!” Gen Douglas McArthur

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 13

1 Overview

Strategy structure waste stream. Council will be looking to utilise
the products in its own construction work to
The Strategy is divided into the general waste anchor the market while reducing its ecological
'streams' according to source and how it enters footprint. Where sensible, council will manage
the management system of the council. There the region’s waste stream within the region to
is some inevitable over-lap. minimise the carbon footprint. However, some
waste streams such as hazardous wastes
It is then analysed according to the cascade of will continue to be transported to appropriate
the Waste Management Hierarchy to ensure facilities elsewhere. During the period it will
proper consideration is given to reduction, take to extend the Nambour and Pierce Avenue
recycling and waste to energy opportunities. landfills, council may need to transport waste
Reduction is what happens BEFORE waste is to Eumundi Road landfill or to best practice
collected or received into council’s collection or landfills outside of our region.
management system.
Map 1: General layout for Sustainability Park
A key feature of the new waste system involves
the utilisation of a block of appropriately zoned Mattress recycling
council land at Caloundra South to establish the C and D processing
Sustainability Park. This block will house the Compost processing
key elements of a future waste system such as: Anaerobic processing

●● a waste receival building

●● a Transfer Station to facilitate the loading of
residual waste for trucking to disposal sites

●● material Recovery facilities to sort out
recyclable materials such as organics,
plastics, glass, cardboard and paper

●● a composting plant

●● a waste to energy plant

●● various recycling industries such as tyre
conversion or mattress recycling

●● re-manufacturing industries such as a tissue
plant.

Adjoining the Sustainability Park is the State
Government’s new industrial estate which
holds potential to use recovered resources,
renewable power and process steam from the
Sustainability Park.

Council will seek an Expression of Interest (EoI)
early in 2010 for a reputable private sector
partner to provide the capital and expertise to
implement this vision. Given that the chosen
company will become council’s partner for a
considerable period of time, council will be
looking at only the most proven and reliable of
waste managers with a demonstrable record
of success in similar ventures elsewhere in
Australia or overseas. The final configuration of
facilities will depend on joint decisions made by
the chosen partner and council.

Council will take a similar approach with
Construction and Demolition wastes by
seeking a partner to utilise council’s existing
waste facilities to receive, sort and recycle this

14 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Table 2: Strategy outline

Consultation message = more education

Decreasing direct responsibility and increasing commercial risks

Domestic + small biz Big Biz Construction and demolition
(kerbside)
• likely to lose monopoly • already competitive:
• will maintain monopoly • encourage recycling through Can't / won't regulate
• ratepayer interaction
• most waste = major focus disposal price • rent sites to private sector
• better to focus on eco-biz and focus on eco-biz

• encourage recycling by high
disposal prices

Key goals = Key Focus =
minimise env. harm, recovering organics
better service, benefits to the
Sunshine Coast

Optional fortnightly 2401 garden waste bin Sustainability Park
• cross-subsidised from disposal charge
• avoids conflict with rural and home composters • Eol for waste alliance
• cheap to compost (open window) partner to handle kerbside
• could be expanded to include flood in weekely collecton in future bin contents

Recycling bin • composter: immediate
• currently 'losing' about 45% to landfill • future: waste to energy,
• yellow top to all small business in 2014
• education and 'best recycler' campaign sorting facilities for waste
• second bin cheap to those who request and recycling
• future technologies etc
Waste bin subject to joint analysis and
• 140L standard to encourage reduction and garden waste bin council decision
• garden waste and paper no longer in waste bin • to be ready for next
• possible future sorting / anaerobic digestion / composting plant as collection contracts in 2014
• other private sector players
alternative to landfill encouraged to recycle and
remanutacture.

Landfills

• will cost more (CPRS, liners,
gas)

• may get a state levy

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 15

1 Overview

Goal for, primarily domestic and commercial wastes.
council will assist with the management of
In cooperation with the residents, the Sunshine other wastes when appropriate and where it
Coast Regional Council will increase the contributes to a more sustainable Sunshine
recovery of wasted resources to over 70 per Coast. This Strategy will guide decision-making
cent by 2014 to add value to the Coast’s on these issues.
economy and minimise damage to the
environment, including the fossil carbon use. Timeframe

Targets This strategy covers the period until the end
of 2014 but will be reviewed on a six monthly
Table 3: Reductions targets (by weight) basis and formally evaluated and refreshed
annually. While the timeframe of this document
Non-compostable plastic 100% by 2012 is relatively short, council will continue to
shopping bags plan long term to ensure opportunities for
appropriate infrastructure such as landfills is not
Construction and Demolition 70% by 2012 lost through urban expansion. Also, the longer
waste term environmental issues such as climate
70% by 2014 change and peak oil will also be kept as a
Municipal Solid Waste 70% by 2014 priority in deciding the best way forward.

Commercial and Industrial Review
waste
The council will ensure that a residents’ forum
Other targets are contained in the Action Plans with expert advice, will consider progress of
of each section. The Strategy will also reflect the Strategy and make recommendations,
other Corporate Plan goals of the Sunshine where appropriate, to the Mayor and CEO.
Coast Regional Council such as encouraging council will also publish a public annual report
renewable energy, minimising greenhouse on the progress of the Strategy, reporting on
gases, developing the local economy and job the KPI’s and the matters required under the
growth and maintaining a transparent system Environmental Protection (Waste Management)
that evolves with community expectations and Policy 2000.
needs.

Scope

This strategy is focused on the wastes that
SCRC currently has a legislative responsibility

16 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Principles Background

To achieve its goal, council will use these Waste Profile
principles in guiding its decisions.
The quantities, types and source of waste
1 Follow the waste hierarchy by greatly materials disposed in the region are an
increasing council’s focus on reducing and important issue in determining future directions
recycling waste to avoid disposal. in waste and resource management. In
2007/2008 the Sunshine Coast community
2 Focus on diverting organic waste from delivered 412,000 tonnes of waste which were
landfill to minimise both future liabilities received at council’s 12 waste management
and carbon emissions while maximising the facilities. It is important to note that the above
opportunities for economic development on quantity of waste does not represent the
the Coast. total waste stream generated in the region
as the private sector also generate additional
3 Utilise the 'polluter pays' principle to waste and dispose of this waste privately. The
increase charges on disposal to encourage following table provides a breakdown of the
and cross-subsidise the costs of recycling. waste received at council’s facilities.

4 Partner with the community and private Table 4: Waste Hierarchy
sectors to determine and deliver services.
Avoidance Most favoured
5 Maximise the economic opportunities by Reuse Least favoured
assisting business to be more efficient Recycle
and to utilise the opportunities from any Waste to energy
recovered resources or energy. Landfill

6 Provide an efficient, convenient and safe
waste system for residents and business.

7 Show leadership by minimising the wastes
from council operations requiring disposal.

8 Minimise the costs and risks to the
ratepayers by using proven technology and
service providers, competitive tendering,
partnering with well established private
companies and transferring commodity risks.

Table 5: Total tonnage of waste (including recycling) received by SCRC in 2007/08.

Waste type Tonnage Percentage of
waste received

Kerbside Solid Waste and Recycling 120,219 29%

Construction and Demolition 96,321 23%

Commercial and Industrial and self delivered 134,885 33%

Garden Waste 61,107 15%

Total 412532 100%

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 17

1 Overview

Domestic waste (kerbside bins) disposal operations. Some of this waste stream
is being privately sorted, recycled and disposed
Domestic waste is generated from all types of in private landfills. Increased waste disposal
of residential premises. Although council has charges by council are likely to motivate the
comprehensive data on this waste type, it is private sector into alternate disposal options.
important to note that the waste collection
vehicles across the region collect both domestic Commercial and industrial waste
and commercial waste and therefore the data is (C and I)
not totally specific to the domestic stream.
C and I waste is generated by the commercial
Construction and demolition waste and industrial sector and is collected in the bulk
(C and D) bin service that council provides. It is noted
that some C and I waste is also collected along
C and D waste is generated by the building with the domestic waste in kerbside bins and
industry. Although council receive almost therefore the data is not totally specific. Private
100,000 tonnes of this waste stream it is waste collectors and recyclers also collect
important to note that there is no guarantee that some commercial and industrial waste from
council will continue to receive this waste stream manufacturing processes which can also impact
in the future as the private sector can and does on the available data.
opt to direct this material to other recycling or

4.1% 2%
6%
2.5% 4%
4.1%
12%
11.5% 68% 13%

52.8% 3.3%
5.4%
2.2%

13.9%

Organic compostable 52.8% Waste to landfill 68%
Inert 2.5% Metal recycling 2%
Other 4% Kerbside recycling 6%
Hazardous 0.3% C and D recycling 12%
Metal 4.1% Green waste recycling 13%
Plastic 11.5%
Glass 3.3% Figure 2: Total waste recycling
Other organic 5.4%
Wood 2.2%
Paper 13.9%

Figure 1: Kerbside solid waste stream components
2008/2009

18 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Waste recycling and waste to energy

Council carries out a number of waste recycling
and energy initiatives that removes waste from
the waste stream and landfill. These initiatives
include the following:
●● mulching of garden waste
●● segregation and crushing of clean concrete
●● segregation, mulching and energy recovery

of timber waste
●● segregation of metal products
●● collection of kerbside recycling materials from

domestic and commercial premises
●● segregation of timber and other second

hand products for reuse via council’s market
facilities.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 19

2 Existing facilities

20 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Council provides a network of waste ●● Metal waste is recycled by segregating
management and resource recovery all metal type materials and transporting
facilities across the region. the product to Brisbane where it is further
processed and or exported.
These facilities vary considerably in both the
quality of the infrastructure, management ●● Concrete waste is recycled by segregating
structure, environmental performance and clean concrete and then crushing it on site
usage pattern. into a variety of products and then sold to the
private sector as a quarry material
Existing waste reduction and
recycling practices ●● Timber is collected separately and processed
and transported to a waste to energy plant.
Council provides a comprehensive kerbside
recycling service across the region with the ●● Council also operates a number of market
majority of premises having been provided with style facilities where products are reused and
a recycling wheelie bin. These services are sold as second hand items.
available for both domestic and commercial
premises. In some areas of the council bulk The above recycling, reuse and waste to
bins are also provided for recycling and this is energy activities divert 32 per cent of the
being extended across the region. waste received at council’s waste facilities
from landfill.
●● Garden waste is recycled by segregating
clean garden waste and processing it by
mulching it into a variety of products for
reuse. Most of council’s waste management
facilities recycle organic waste.

Table 6: Existing waste facility usage

Site Landfill tonnes Recycled product Customers/hr
16,384m3 36
Buderim 11,479 tonnes 34,711m3 28
9,798m3 26
Pierce Avenue 89,653 tonnes 27,619m3 21
9,768m3 13
Nambour 117,741 tonnes 6,929m3 13
2,067m3 9
Eumundi Road 39,067 tonnes 2,906m3 4
4,334m3 3
Beerwah 1,635 tonnes 1,830m3 3
311m3 2
Witta 826 tonnes 156m3 1

Coolum 8,650 tonnes

Pomona 641 tonnes

Cooroy 728 tonnes

Mapleton 382 tonnes

Yandina 504 tonnes

Kenilworth 272 tonnes

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 21

2 Existing facilities

Transfer stations and resource recovery Coolum landfill
facilities The Coolum landfill is near capacity and is
planned to permanently close as a landfill in
There are eight such facilities across the region early 2010. This landfill is to be replaced with a
and these perform at various standards. These domestic transfer station and resource recovery
facilities were reviewed during the development facility. The most significant impact will be on
of the waste management strategy and there the construction and demolition waste industry
was a consensus by the Waste Taskforce that as this waste will be required to be taken to
most of these facilities were underperforming either Nambour or Noosa landfills for recycling
in the area of community education, resource or to a private facility.
recovery and others were grossly underutilised
by the public. Table 7: Waste disposed (2007/08)

Disposal Waste to landfill is largely four distinct types
characterised by source and weight.
Disposal is currently into four SCRC landfills
but one, the Coolum facility, is closing in 2010 33% Commercial, Industrial and self haul waste
and being replaced with a Resource Recovery
Centre. 23% Construction and demolition (building)
wastes
Pierce Ave landfill
29% Kerbside wastes (domestic and small
Caloundra’s landfill at Pierce Avenue is nearing businesses)
completion of its current approved configuration.
The landfill will have gas capture to reduce its 15% Self-delivered garden waste.
greenhouse gases and odours by 2011/12. Plans
are underway for extending the site into the Table 8: Waste diverted at landfill (2007/08)
neighbouring contaminated land that was leased
to a gun club for many years. Encroaching 13% Garden waste
residential communities and the need for a
liner and gas capture on new cells will probably 12% Construction and demolition waste
double the cost of disposing at this facility.
6% Kerbside recycling
Nambour landfill
2% Metal
Nambour landfill is also nearing completion of
its existing footprint. It will also have gas capture Anticipated trends/issues
installed by 2011/12. Land adjoining has been
purchased to increase the diversion rate and Demographic Trends
studies are being done to examine the costs
and benefits of expanding the landfill into the Population Growth and Changing Demographics
adjoining rock through a quarrying operation. Since the 1980’s the Sunshine Coast has
been one of the fastest growing areas in
Noosa landfill Australia. Over the last 10 years, the Sunshine
Coast population has grown by approximately
The Eumundi Road landfill provides the greatest 8,500 people annually (3 per cent p.a). It is
landfill capacity and, the new cells are lined expected to increase from 295,000 in 2006 to
and will have gas capture by 2012/13. It is approximately 500,000 by 2031, which is an
the Sunshine Coast’s best landfill from an increase of almost 70 per cent over 25 years.
environmental perspective but unfortunately
lies at the opposite end of the region from
where waste will be generated in future. The
environmental licence for Eumundi road will
be altered to allow for greater waste disposal.
Consideration will be given to using this capacity
for Nambour during Nambour’s up-grades.

22 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Map 2: Residential Population Projections 2006-2031 for Sunshine Coast.

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Cooroibah
IN ON D RI
GYMPIE TEWANTIN NOOSA NOOSA
REGIONAL ROAD SHIRE HEADS
COUNCIL TI MCK BUSINESS
Y N CENTRE
R
VE NOOSAVILLE

COORO C ONNEC O N

COOROY BRUCE HIGHWAY E SUNSHINE SOUTH
R O AD BEACH PACIFIC
DAVID LOW WAYLake
Weyba

DOONAN UMUNDI NOOSA

!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! !!!!! ! 14%
PEREGIAN
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EUMUNDI BEACH

EUMU NDI KENILWORTH ROAD

Cooloolabin NINDERRY AD COOLUM
Dam !!! ANDIN BEACH
Y
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A COOLUM RO MARCOOLA

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wappa YANDINA SUNSHINE MOTORWAY !!!!
Dam DAVID LOW WAY
!!!!!!!!!
8% !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!
KENILWORTH ROAD D !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OBI !!!!!!!!!
MA LENY O BI ROA BLI BLI

BLI BLI ROAD

MAPLETON
!!!!!
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! NAMBOUR ! ! ! !! !! !! !! !! !! ! ! !

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! BRUCE HIGHWAY MAROOCHYDORE
NAMBOUR CO NN
!

ECTION ROAD MAROOCHYDORE ROAD

MONTV ILLE ! ! ! ! ! ! !! PALMWOODS BUDERIM OAD MOOLOOLABA
!
MA M O OLOO LABA R

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MONTVILLE PL ETON R ONS ROAD
!!!!!!!!!! M
Baroon O AD AD FOREST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! INE MOTORWAY
Pocket PALMWO ODS M OOLO OLAH RO TANA GLEN
Dam WHA ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! SUNSH
TOURIST DRIVE
!
Y MO NT VILLE ROAD 73%SIPPY ! KAWANA
DOWNS
A PALMVIEW
MA L NY
E CONONDALE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! EUDLO NICKLIN WAY
K ENILWORTH RO
D !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

MALEN

MALENY ! ! ! !!
STEVE IRWIN WAY
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LITTLE !
MOOLOOLAH MOUNTAIN !
NY ROAD CURRIMUNDI
!!!!!!!!!!! CALOUNDRA ROAD
SOMERSET MOUNTAIN V EW ROAD LANDSBOROUGH MALE Ewen BRUCE HIGHWAY OCEAN
REGIONAL Maddock
COUNCIL I
Dam

4% ! ! ! ! ! L!A!N! D! S! B! OROUGH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! !!!!!!!!!!!
A !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CALOUNDRA

CALOUNDRA ! GOLDEN
SOUTH BEACH

PEACHESTER PELICAN
WATERS
! Passage

PE C HE STER RO AD

!!!!!!!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! BEERWAH

GLASS HOUSE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !! stone
MOUNTAINS Pu m ic e

!!!!!!!!!

MORETON BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

BEERBURRUM
!!!!!!!!!

Source: PIFU Population Projections, Qld, 2008 Edition, Medium Series (August 2008).
Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 23

2 Existing facilities

The projected demand for housing this The regional waste and resource strategy will
population will require an additional 98,500 new need to ensure that it can accommodate the
dwellings to be constructed by 2031. Most of needs of the industrial and economic needs of
this growth is predicted to be accommodated the area and the anticipated growth patterns.
in the coastal urban areas, primarily within the
regional development areas (identified in the Legislative issues
Regional Plan) of Maroochydore, Palmview and
Caloundra South. Federal Strategy

Council’s Growth Management Position The Federal Government has shown an
Paper determined that most future residential increased willingness to assist with the national
development can occur within the existing Urban management of some specific waste streams.
Footprint (as defined by the Regional Plan). The The final Strategy had not been finalised at
new Town Plan will further define the pattern of the time of writing but it is anticipated that a
future settlement but the gross trends of most stronger emphasis on Extended Producer
development occurring in the south will remain. Responsibility schemes will be implemented on
products like e-wastes.
Council will need to work to identify future landfill
locations to ensure that urban expansion does Carbon reduction emissions trading is also
not destroy the sensible choices of location. anticipated to be introduced during the life of
this Waste Strategy. This is likely to be a 'cap
Industrial and economic base and trade' scheme rather than a straight tax
but the outcome will be similar in that council’s
The Sunshine Coast is attempting to facilitate a methane emissions from landfill will incur a
more diverse economy including encouraging significant cost if not reduced. Current thinking
many innovative companies that are leaders in is that this will commence at approximately
their niche fields. $15/tonne of mixed waste rising steeply in
the coming years. The situation is particularly
The Sunshine Coast’s economy has grown uncertain prior to the Copenhagen Climate
significantly as listed in the following:

2000 2001-2002
1500 2006-2007

1000 74% growth 103% growth
188% growth
156% growth 118% growth
500

0 Agriculture
Mining

Manufacturing
Elecricity, gas

and water
Construction
Wholesale trade

Retail trade
Accomodation, cafes

and restaurants
Transport and storage

Communications
Finance and insurance

Property and
business services
Government, admin

and defence
Education
Health and

community services
Cultural and

recreational services
Personal and
other services

Figure 3: Growth in Gross Regional Product ($M)
24 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Change Conference but the financial impact Organics
on organics to landfill will add to the imperative
to divert those materials before disposal. It is Composts currently have a strong market at
also expected to favour renewable power from the lower price and quality levels or at the
waste to energy plants but the details are still higher value bagged products. It is expected
too uncertain. that the market for composts will grow as the
product volumes increase, particularly in the
State government strategy and regulation farming sector. The SCRC has a significant
internal market through its parks and gardens
The Queensland Government is also planning as well as having the ability to return composts
to refresh its old State Waste Strategy during to its ratepayers. Coupled with commercial
the life of this SCRC Strategy. A number of landscaping and the vital agricultural markets,
preliminary documents have been released these uses are expected to provide sufficient
but it is unknown what specifics are planned. demand for all of the composts produced by the
Previous documents have indicated a desire SCRC or its contractors.
for waste diversion targets and possibly a
disposal tax to discourage landfill and fund However, the probability of other Local
improvements to the State waste management. Governments also moving to separate and
compost their organics could easily put
The private sector waste management pressure on the market prices. There are very
companies are lobbying for the removal of the significant volumes needed to rehabilitate
Sunshine Coast’s monopoly on commercial mining operations.
wastes. As this monopoly has disappeared in
most local government areas, it is possible that Renewable energy
the State will remove SCRC’s singular control of
that waste stream. This market is expected to just get stronger as
the policy drivers for climate change and oil
Local government depletion take hold. As such, it is expected that
there is going to be a strong market demand
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has though the price of coal-derived electricity will
begun developing a new Town Plan to unite the depress returns. The SCRC has committed to
new region. The growth data shown is expected carbon neutrality and will provide a significant
to be largely consistent with the Plan. The Plan internal market itself. Council must determine
is also intended to contain the policies and what amount of clean energy it is prepared
guidelines necessary to give effect to this Waste to buy as it will come at a cost premium to
Strategy. Particularly, there will be a need to environmentally damaging coal-fired power.
ensure that densification still takes account of
waste management in areas such as space There is an emerging possibility in bio-char –
for separated waste bins, truck collection and a charcoal type product of organic wastes after
conflicts with commercial and residential uses. some types of waste to energy treatments –
with a possible role in sequestering carbon
Markets for recovered resources in the soil. While it is only new, there is some
promise around this product, particularly if it
Kerbside recyclates gets included in carbon accounting.

Commodity prices fell sharply during the Global
Financial Crisis of 2009. This, in turn, adversely
affected the viability of kerbside recycling which
had been enjoying a boom prior to then. While
these markets have always had a significant
degree of volatility, it is expected that a more
stable situation will have returned by the time of
the next contract in 2014. The continued issues
with 'peak oil' are also likely to slowly drive the
price of oil-based plastics up, though it is too
uncertain to predict to what extent within the life
of this strategy.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 25

3 Outcomes

26 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has 3%
decided that reducing organics to landfill
will be the principal focus of this Strategy. 4%
2%
This focus on organics will: 3%

●● reduce SCRC’s carbon footprint (waste is 4% 66%
currently 66 per cent) 4%

●● reduce odours and leachate damaging the 14%
environment
Transport 3% Waste 66%
●● help reach the 70+ per cent diversion target Sport and rec 4% Facilities 3%
Lighting 4% Water 4%
●● reduce particulate and chemical run-off from Waste water 14% Buildings 2%
Coast soils
Figure 4: Relative Contributions to Climate Change
●● increase the health of the Coast’s soils from SCRC Operations

●● maximise the economic development
opportunities for recycling on the Coast.

As domestic wastes are the legislated
responsibility of the council, SCRC will primarily
focus on this particular waste stream. However,
the Sunshine Coast aspires to be the most
sustainable region in Australia. Council sees
an opportunity to increase the private sector’s
competitiveness by assisting them to reduce
the costs of waste on their businesses.

Council’s landfills are rapidly being exhausted.
New landfills and probable carbon and disposal
levies mean that the opportunity value of the
remaining airspace has considerably increased.
It is estimated that the opportunity value is
approximately $90/tn. In other words, SCRC
can spend up to $80/ tn nett of recyclate value
on diversion and still be financially ahead. This,
of course, does not include the real cost which
should include the environmental damage.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 27

3 Outcomes

Many of the actions necessary require Community engagement
significant and on-going investment in
infrastructure and expertise in management. Community engagement and education can be
Experience has shown that council does found throughout this Strategy pertaining to the
not have the skills nor the capital to operate various waste streams and initiatives. However,
these facilities and will be looking to long it is considered that community engagement is
term partnerships with proven and reliable so important that it warrants specific mention.
private sector operators to work with it. These Some of the actions will be duplicates of those
commercial 'alliance contract' arrangements contained elsewhere in the document.
will leverage council’s sites and existing skill
base with 'best practice' technology. Where More education and community engagement
ever possible, a single private sector partner was the single biggest response from the
will be sought for each site or waste stream to consultation program on this Strategy. Clearly,
better integrate operations and avoid contractor there is widespread ignorance of services
conflicts. and options, let alone appropriate sustainable
behaviour. Traditionally, council has under-
For example, an Expression of Interest will resourced this facet of waste management.
be sought for the Sustainability Park to cover This will change. Incentives, competitions, an
operation of: up-graded website, and partnerships with the
Sunshine Coast media to bring information to
●● the Materials Recovery Facility the public.

●● the organics composting 2014 Targets

●● the waste to energy ●● Over 50 per cent of residents correctly
identifying the correct articles for recycling.
Private sector waste managers with a proven
track record and existing successful plants will ●● Over 50 per cent of businesses and residents
be asked to provide their best configuration aware of the services available to them.
to achieve 70+ per cent diversion with the
maximum sustainability benefits to the Coast. ●● 80 per cent of residents understanding the
link between organics and climate change.
Other outcomes
●● 80 per cent of residents aware of the benefits
While the main focus is on diverting organic of using mulch and composts.
wastes, the Waste Minimisation Strategy is
intended to deliver a wide spectrum of outcomes. Outcomes

Principally, they are: ●● An integrated public education program on
the issues of landfilled organics and how
●● a strong partnership with the community to utilise organics on-site including training
through greatly increased engagement and and on-going support for residents in how to
education. mulch, compost and worm farm, subsidised
equipment for training course graduates.
●● professional waste minimisation advice
delivered as part of an eco-efficiency service ●● Resource Recovery Centres will have
to business. public education included in their contract
deliverables.
●● a more flexible and customer-focussed
collection system. ●● Incentives and prizes to reward the good
performers.
●● more employment and investment utilising the
resources recovered from the waste streams. ●● Regular attitude surveys to track attitude and
behaviour.
●● increased renewable energy to reduce our
use of fossil carbon.

●● modern landfills with no negative
environmental emissions including minimal
greenhouse gases.

28 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

How will we get there?

Council intends to fully engage with the
residential and business community. Council
considers this is essential if it is to facilitate the
sustainable behaviour needed to achieve its
vision of Australia’s most sustainable region.
The old approach involved providing the
community information and sitting back hoping
that behaviours would miraculously change
for the better. As issues such as public health
show, changing behaviour is a significant
challenge requiring specialist skills, consistent
application and significant resources.

Council recognises that habits change, new
residents are arriving, and new issues emerge.
This means that this program of engaging the
community will need to be on-going.

Table 8: Community engagement and education: Implementation

Actions Priority When KPI’s
2010 Survey completed
Biennial market survey of residents to establish trends in High 2010>>
attitudes, behaviours, satisfaction and preferred services 50 per cent
2010 recognition of
Design and implement a public education program on: High 2010 program 10 per
2010 cent increase in
• the damage that organics to landfill causes correct answers pa
• the value of mulches and composts to home gardens
• recycling hints and service choices 2 competitions pa
• how the householder can most easily gain these benefits
• where to go for assistance from council or others. 100 per cent of
contracts by 2014
Develop incentives and competitions to encourage positive High Doubling of schools
behaviour change involved each year.

Include community education into the Resource Recovery High
Centre contracts

Expand current education and school Waste Wise programs High
across whole Coast and include composting workshops

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 29

4 Domestic wastes

30 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Domestic wastes are characterised as: Table 9: The most significant segments of the
domestic waste bin by weight
●● recyclable (primarily paper, cardboard, cans
and glass or plastic bottles) 1 Compostable organics 60.4%

●● organics (garden waste and unwanted food), Food (22.6%)
and
Garden (37.3%)
●● the residual wastes (everything else).
2 Non-recyclable plastic 10.1%
As mentioned before, SCRC will focus, during
the life of this Strategy, on engaging and 3 Recyclable paper/cardboard 9.3%
educating the public about how they can play
their part in achieving a more sustainable 40 Food
Sunshine Coast. This will be through facilitating 35 Garden
the recovery of the domestic organic resources 30 Non-recyclable plastic
for composts, mulches and power. There will 25 Recyclable
continue to be a lesser but still adequate focus 20 paper / cardboard
on important issues such as minimising non- 15
compostable plastic bags, maximising recycling 10
at kerbside and at Resource Recovery Stations,
specialist wastes such as e-wastes and 5
treatment of household hazardous wastes. 0

The most recent waste characterisation audit
was carried out at the Pierce Avenue landfill by
EnviroCom in April 2009. The proportions are
not expected to differ significantly across the
Coast but future work will determine that.

In total, 14 per cent of the waste bin was
currently recyclable in the yellow top bin. While
this does not sound like much, it is17,000
tonnes of wasted resources. This means
that, with better education, systems and
encouragement, the Sunshine Coast could
increase its recycling by over 50 per cent.
If compostable materials are diverted through
composting, we would be approaching a
domestic recycling rate of 75 per cent.

Council will encourage waste minimisation
through its pricing of bins and waste disposal.
In line with 'polluter pays', the residents who
have smaller bins and who recycle will be
rewarded with significantly lower charges.
Garden waste will be phased out of the rubbish
bin and garden waste and container recycling
will be cross-subsidised by disposal charges.
Residents will be encouraged to keep garden
organics out of the waste bin.

Figure 5: The most significant segments of the
domestic waste bin by weight
Source: EnviroCom Australia 2009

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 31

4 Domestic wastes

Council is looking to co-locate recycling Coolum landfill will be closed and converted to
industries at the Sustainability Park adjacent a Resource Recovery Centre. Nambour and
to the industrial zone at Caloundra South. The Pierce Avenue require extensions. Eumundi
transport connections are excellent, the Park is Road landfill has significant life and will accept
at the focus of urban growth over the next 20 wastes from other Sunshine Coast collections.
years yet has very good buffer distances to any
existing or planned residential developments to Reduction
ensure no nuisance is caused to residents.
2014 Targets
Council is also looking to partner with local
farmers to facilitate composting on farm. ●● Over 50 per cent of residents composting,
This not only reduces costs but adds to the worm farming or mulching regularly.
sustainability of the region.
●● 100 per cent of non-compostable thin film
There are some specialist wastes that require plastic bags banned.
particular attention due to their impacts or
opportunities. For example, recent progress ●● 10 community gardens established.
between State and Federal Governments will
facilitate the recycling of e-wastes and the ●● Less than five per cent garden waste in
council will participate in that program. Council general rubbish bins.
will cooperate with others but also move
unilaterally when appropriate. Outcomes

The remaining 25 per cent un-recycled wastes ●● An integrated public education program on
have a large proportion (approximately 1/3) of the issues of landfilled organics and how
currently unrecyclable plastic film. These plastics to utilise organics on-site including training
can be used as a fuel for renewable energy and on-going support for residents in how to
plants, possibly located at the Caloundra South mulch, compost and worm farm, subsidised
Sustainability Park, which in turn would supply equipment for training course graduates.
energy in the form of electricity and steam to
operators adjacent in the industrial zone to ●● A better separation of wastes, garden
reduce coal-fired energy needs. organics and recyclables.

In spite of increased reduction, recycling and ●● A bin charging system that rewards recyclers
waste to energy, there will still be a need for and low waste generators.
disposal. It is uncertain to what extent council
will be successful at diverting waste from ●● A neighbourhood outreach program of
landfill. Council will use 'best practice' landfilling community gardens and neighbourhood
with liners and methane gas capture to composting with appropriate SCRC
minimise any environmental consequences. assistance.

How will we get there?

While there is some potential for reduction of
specific waste streams such as plastic bags,
the most effective lies in facilitating the use
of organics on the garden and lawn through
home mulching, worm farming and composting.
These products are relatively simple to produce
and provide significant benefits to the residents
in the form of healthier gardens and lawns,
less water and chemical use and run-off and
consequently lower costs. Council will promote
'compost' as a product to encourage both the
home production of mulches and composts but
also the use of commercial composts by those
who do not wish to produce their own.

Experiences elsewhere indicate that 'free'
compost bins are not a cost-effective solution
by themselves and that investing in training

32 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

in parallel with subsidised bins and worm
farms better targets those residents who are
keen to begin or improve their composting
efforts. Also, the example of the collaboration
between the Eumundi markets and school show
that schools can teach their students while
making some money from compost sales and
improving the neighbourhood’s sustainability.
Council will provide information to all Sunshine
Coast schools on the Eumundi successes
and assist where possible to facilitate similar
neighbourhood solutions. Council’s existing
work with school children will be increased to
include an organics composting component.

Council will also run competitions to encourage
residents to separate garden wastes and
recyclables from general waste bins. Given that
householders can preferably home compost
or recycle through either private sector local
businesses or council garden waste bin service
and each ratepayer already has a yellow top
recycling bin, there is no reason why garden
waste or recyclables should be acceptable in
the general waste bin.

Table 10: Domestic reduction: Implementation Priority When KPI’s
High 2010
Actions 2010>> Survey completed
High
Market survey of residents to establish baseline of home 2010 50 per cent
composters and perceived barriers. recognition of
2010 program
Design and implement a public education program on: 2011 10 per cent
• the damage that organics to landfill causes; increase in correct
• the value of mulches and composts to home gardens; answers pa
• how the householder can most easily gain these benefits;
• where to go for assistance from council or others. 10 per cent
increase in
Develop and implement a training and subsidy program to High residents
assist residents and schoolchildren compost and worm farm mulching,
in collaboration with local businesses, schools and gardening composting or
organisations. worm farming pa

Work with businesses to minimise non-compostable plastic High 100 per cent
bags from the Coast compostable bags
by 2012
Establish program of neighbourhood gardens and composting Medium
to build social capital and neighbourhood cohesion while 2x neighbourhood
increasing ownership of parks and gardens and minimising gardens pa
waste.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 33

4 Domestic wastes

Recycling complete organic collection. Collecting food
from households raises the costs and education
Target requirements significantly as collection must be
weekly, contamination more difficult to control
75 per cent of kerbside collected domestic and composting must be enclosed. However,
waste will be recycled as compost and sorting costs are also reduced, compared to a
commodities. mixed waste bin. A decision on the most suitable
method will be made before the next round of
How will we get there? collection contracts.

Almost as much recyclable 'packaging' material In the meantime, council will also look at
ends up in the garbage bin as in the recycling encouraging the use of the current garden
bin. Clearly we have a problem. Further study waste service by reducing the price or including
will be needed to better pinpoint exactly the service as part of the normal suit of
where the majority of that is coming from residential collection.
but it appears that a major source is tourist
accommodation, particularly high rise, and Some families or multi-unit dwellings are
small businesses as well as those facilities’ filling their recycling bins before the fortnight
kerbside bins are collected in the same trucks. is finished. They then have to put valuable
There is also evidence from elsewhere that recyclables into the waste bin. Some have
householders are recycling very well in the asked for a weekly collection but that almost
kitchen but less so in the other rooms which doubles the costs. To help larger families and
usually only have a waste bin. our best recyclers, council will provide an extra
bin upon request.
Tourist facilities will be dealt with later in the
Strategy as they are quite specialist though Waste to energy
they share many of the issues with residential
high rise. This building type presents particular Target
problems with bin collection and residents’
convenience. Many of the Coast’s multi-unit Derive renewable energy from the residual
dwellings require a tailored solution for their wastes after reduction and improved recycling
rubbish and recycling needs. The Gold Coast has been implemented.
faces a similar problem and has had success
by working systematically with each facility How will we get there?
to develop an arrangement that meets the
residents and collectors needs. Council is Waste to energy can be a commercially and
also keen to prevent an army of bins on the environmentally risky business. To eliminate
street so will move to bulk bin recycling where these risks, council will only utilise technologies
appropriate. that are demonstrably world’s best practice
and operated by proven companies with an
The major focus will be on diverting the exemplary track record for their existing plants.
organics from landfill to beneficial re-use. Council will also strive for maximum efficiencies
Initially, council will concentrate on garden of any waste to energy plant by ensuring
wastes as they are: that steam from any turbines is available for
utilisation by industries in the Sustainability
●● the greatest contributor to climate change, Park or adjacent industrial zone.

●● relatively simple and uncontaminated to Waste to energy plants are built for a specific
collect, and input and the costs of varying those volumes or
even the types of wastes can be prohibitive. To
●● relatively cheap to compost. avoid these costs, council will ensure that any
waste to energy plant is specified to only accept
Council will trial various collection methods the residual wastes after recycling has taken
to determine which is most suitable and cost- place and that council will not accept the full
effective. The selection of a strategic partner to financial risk. Council will explore opportunities
process waste at the Sustainability Park will help with Moreton and Brisbane councils to gain the
determine whether food organics are separated economies of scale that may be available.
from the household rubbish through technology
or are included in the garden waste bin as a

34 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Table 11: Domestic recycling: Implementation Priority When KPI’s
High 2010 10 winners pa
Actions Medium
High 2011 Trial report to
Hold competition of 'best recycler in street' based on random Low 2010 SCRC
checks
50 new MUD pa
Examine use of community groups to collect and repair
kerbside large items collection 2010>>> Target waste
reduced
Work with multi-unit dwellings (MUD) to determine the most
mutually beneficial recycling collection arrangements.

Lobby the State and Federal Governments to reduce
packaging, implement 'extended producer responsibility'
take back schemes and advance recycling fees.

Negotiate sorting, recycling and re-manufacturing High 2012 Contract signed
arrangements with Sust. Park partner 2012
2010 Volumes recycled
Facilitate recycling of domestic waste items such as e-waste, Medium
tyres, motor oil etc at Sustainability Park and other facilities No. of farms
receiving organics
Trial on-farm composting of domestic organics High

Table 12: Domestic waste to energy: Implementation Priority When KPI’s
Actions High 2010>> No timber waste
Continue supplying WtE plants with unrecyclable timber wastes to landfill
High 2011
Quantify types and possible volumes of WtE fuels Medium 2011 Study completed
Determine SCRC’s purchasing requirements for 'green' electricity
Study completed

Negotiate waste to energy plant with Sust. Park strategic High 2012 SCRC decision
partner and industrial customers for steam High 2014 Plant operational

Establish waste to energy plant at Sust. Park.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 35

4 Domestic wastes

Disposal pollution from our landfills is currently being
allowed to escape to the atmosphere. Over the
Target life of this Strategy, council will dispose of its
All residual waste is safely disposed of with waste only into 'best practice' lined landfills with
minimal discharge of pollutants to air or water. gas capture and leachate treatment. This will
involve up-grades and extensions to Eumundi
How will we get there? Road, Nambour and Pierce Avenue landfills.
Some of the Sunshine Coast’s waste is While this increases the costs significantly, this is
currently disposed to un-lined landfills, which a priority for the council. The fact that the organic
allows the possibility of leachate pollution to fraction has been minimised will also greatly
escape into ground water. Similarly, all air reduce environmental harm from the landfills.

Table 13: Domestic disposal: Implementation Priority When KPI’s
High 2010>>
Actions High 2011/12 All new cells lined
All new landfill cells will be fully lined with leachate treatment
Gas capture at all
Install gas capture at Pierce Avenue, Nambour and Eumundi by 2012
Road landfills

36 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 37

5 Commercial and tourist facilities

38 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council Council will set an example by leading the way
currently has a monopoly on the on minimising its own wastes. The lessons
management of wastes from these facilities. learnt will help council in assisting businesses
It is considered possible that this may to do likewise.
change in the imminent review of the State
Government’s regulation. The Sunshine The tourism industry also represents a
Coast’s businesses could be able to choose considerable challenge for SCRC. Visitors come
whether they pay the council or a private from different regions with different recycling
waste management company. If this is the systems. They tend to be less disciplined than
case, the larger operators with inter-state they are at home. It is also difficult to educate
linkages are likely to seek private service them as they are only on the coast for a short
providers to gain some economies of scale time and are not particularly focussed on
with their other operations. learning about waste management. There are
also a number of other synergistic 'messages'
However, the smaller businesses and tourist that can enhance visitors’ experiences while
accommodation are likely to remain with the minimising their negative impact on our land
SCRC, if SCRC is competitive in price and such as reducing water use, minimising litter and
service. This will require changes to the current accessing the Coast’s beautiful natural areas.
'one size fits all' collection contracts let by
SCRC. It is also an appropriate time to shift to a Council will look at producing a DVD of visitor
waste management service, involving advice on information that can capture the issues such as
minimisation, eco-efficiency and cost reduction, responsible waste and water information while
rather than the old style simple waste collection promoting the region’s attractions.
service.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 39

5 Commercial and tourist facilities

Reduction is not well suited to the current uncertainty in
commercial waste. However, there is nothing to
Target stop a private proponent or SCRC from signing
All commercial buildings and operators will long term contracts if viable.
have access to waste minimisation services,
including eco-efficiency advice. Council will focus on recovering the organics –
food from restaurants, cardboard from retailers,
How will we get there? paper from offices.
Initially, council will expand their eco-Biz eco-
efficiency advice service, that has been so Public place recycling and public event
successful in some larger businesses in the recycling are particularly costly and
north of the region, to cover the full spectrum problematic. Contamination often makes the
of businesses across the entire Coast. In the resources unrecyclable. However, they do raise
longer term, council will determine how best awareness and with careful design, some of the
to use the next collection contract in 2014 to issues can be overcome.
deliver location-specific advice to the Coast’s
businesses.

Recycling

Target
All businesses will have access to appropriate
and convenient recycling services.

How will we get there?

Council currently provides recycling at no
additional cost to business. It is uncertain
whether this can be sustained if the State
Government removes the SCRC’s monopoly
but will continue as long as that is in place. Due
to this, SCRC will concentrate on providing
advice to business on where to access
recycling services and will facilitate a web-
based resource exchange register that can
assist businesses to turn one’s waste into
another’s resource. Similarly, waste to energy,
with its inherent need for certainty of supply,

Table 14: Commercial and tourism waste reduction implementation

Actions Priority When KPI
2010>>
Council will expand the resources applied to its High 2010>> 25 new businesses
eco-efficiency program to cover entire Coast. per annum
2011
Council will engage with its major waste customers on High 2010 10 new businesses
with waste min. Plans
issues of service requirements and minimisation possibilities per annum

Council will develop an integrated education program for High Program
visitors that captures waste and other issues High commenced

Council will minimise its own wastes through an eco- 10 per cent reduction
efficiency process as part of corporate sustainability. in waste to landfill
per annum.

40 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Table 15: Commercial and tourism waste recycling implementation

Actions Priority When KPI
2010>>
Recycling education program for commercials targeting paper High 2014 50 per cent
and cardboard. 2012 recognition

All commercial services to have recycling bin included (unless High 2010>> 90 per cent take
opt out) up
2010
Major facilities required to have recycling plan High 2012 80 per cent of
2010>> facilities with
Lobby the State Government to require all waste collectors to High recycling plan
provide a recycling service. 2014
2011 Provision in new
A web-based register of waste products will be produced to Medium State Waste
facilitate their use as resources by others. Strategy
Medium
Investigate public place and public event recycling. High Waste exchange
goes live
SCRC to require recycling on all owned and leased facilities.
Report to SCRC
Organics-focused collection systems to provide input to Sust. Medium
Park composter and WtE. High 100 per cent
facilities with
Investigate whether the new planning scheme can provide recycling
additional policy direction , enforcement and implementation by 2012
measures.
Inclusion in
collection contract

Extent of
appropriate
provisions
included in
adopted plan

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 41

5 Commercial and tourist facilities

Waste to energy Disposal

Target Target
Any disposal of commercial wastes will be to
Council will examine possibilities for accessing minimal impact landfills.
residual commercial wastes for conversion to
energy. How will we get there?
This target will be achieved through the similar
How will we get there? commitment on domestic wastes. In future,
council may well have to compete with private
Much of this work is synergistic with the landfills as happens elsewhere in the State.
domestic waste to energy initiative. Council Council will lobby the State Government
may well not control this commercial waste to ensure that any new landfills are at best
stream into the near future, depending on the practice and also meet the recycling levels
State Government regulations. As such, it expected from this Strategy.
would be financially risky to predicate a waste
to energy plant on this waste stream unless
very long term contracts are in place. As waste
to energy is currently more costly than recycling
or disposing in a landfill, it is possible that
significant volumes will not be available from
the private sector and this needs close study.

Table 16: Commercial and tourism waste to energy: Implementation

Actions Priority When KPI’s
2011 Fuel specifications
Liaise with Sust. Park waste to energy partner to define High and volumes
appropriate fuel streams. 2012 Report to SCRC

Establish potential commercial customers with significant Medium 2013 Contracts signed
unrecyclable waste streams. 2010>>
No woody waste
Explore long term contracts for their management. High 2010 to landfill
Clean energy
All suitable existing wastes continue to WtE plant. High purchase budget

SCRC to determine 'green energy' purchase from WtE plants. Medium

Table 17: Commercial and tourism residual disposal:
Implementation

Actions Priority When KPI’s

Policy in new High 2011 Planning
Town Plan policy
requiring any adopted
new landfill
to be best
practice
containment
and also
recycle 70 per
cent +.

42 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 43

6 Self-delivered waste

44 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Reduction How will we get there?

By definition, these wastes have arrived Council will require those who bring waste
at the Resource Recovery Stations so the to the RRC to sort their loads into recyclable
opportunities for reduction have passed. and not, with a strong price incentive for
clean separated recyclables. The RRC will be
Recycling preferably managed by community groups or
local businesses with long term contracts to
Target facilitate investment in education and re-use
All SCRC waste receival facilities will be workshops where appropriate. Diversion will
managed as Resource Recovery Centres not be simply a matter of market prices for
(RRC) and used as part of the education commodities and tenders will be judged on
of waste generators. Customers will be proportions diverted, education provided and
encouraged to sort their loads through pricing other social outcomes as well as the tendered
and intervention. price. The connection to the community will
be encouraged through management rights,
re-sale shops, re-use of materials by schools,
artists and the wider community.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 45

6 Self-delivered waste

Table 18: Self delivered waste recycling: Implementation

Actions Priority When KPI
2010>>
Review all current receival stations for their suitability for up- High 2011 All RCC reviewed
grade to Resource Recovery Centres and up-grade facilities. by 2014
2010
Let new longer term contracts (3yrs + 2 + 1) to require a high Medium 2010 All contracts in
level of diversion of all resources, education of customers and place by 2014
integration into the re-use and resource exchange website. 2010
Website live and
Establish a website that lists resources recovered through the Medium 2010>> functional
RRCs and any re-manufactured products.
RCC paid to
Encourage recycling and separation of loads through strong Medium intervene to stop
price differential and intervention. recyclables to
landfill
Educate RRC customers about specialist programs such as High
hazardous wastes, e-wastes etc Program
scheduled,
Participate in the Federal Govt’s e-waste and other specialist High brochures printed
wastes recycling program.
RCC participation
in all programs
when appropriate
to facility

46 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Waste to energy Disposal

Target Target
All appropriate material received that isn’t Any disposal of wastes will be to minimal
suitable for recycling will be used in generating impact landfills or to licensed hazardous waste
clean energy. facilities.

How will we get there? How will we get there?
This target will be achieved through the similar
Suitable waste such as smashed pallets will be commitment on domestic wastes. Recycling
kept separate and used as fuel in preference to will be encouraged and disposal will be
landfill. discouraged through pricing policies.

Table 19: Self delivered waste: Waste to energy Self Delivered Waste – Disposal
implementation Implementation
Priority actions – see domestic disposal.
Actions Priority When KPI

Non-compostable High 2010>> Zero
or non-re-usable timber
timber and other to
high calorific landfill
wastes will be
shredded and
used for energy
production.

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 47

7 Construction and demolition waste

48 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014

Construction and demolition (C and D) more slowly, it is a far simpler waste stream to
is a significant proportion of the waste manage.
currently going to landfill. However, SCRC
has no legislative monopoly over this waste However, an emerging issue for the Coast is the
stream. Council also has the ability to use plethora of older 'beach house' style dwellings
Local Laws to require all C and D waste from the 40’s through to the 70’s that were clad
managers to meet a common minimum level in the ubiquitous asbestos cement (fibro). While
of recycling performance. While it would be the health risk remains minimal while it is in situ,
better for the State Government to do this, more and more of these old dwellings are being
the council believes that they cannot wait demolished or renovated as property values
any longer. rise and population pressures increase.

Council has some strategically located sites Commercial operators are required to follow
and so expects to continue as a major service strict procedures by Workplace Health and
provider to the building industry. Recycling Safety laws but the DIY renovators are not
C and D waste has become a very technical similarly bound. These people are also the
process. Council intends to set a benchmark most likely to try to avoid the costs of a
in recycling performance by partnering with professional removal and so put themselves,
the recycling industry leaders utilising council’s future occupants, their neighbours and waste
sites and the private sector partner’s expertise workers at risk of cancer. Council has already
and experience in creating and marketing had illegally dumped asbestos contaminate its
engineered products. recycled concrete once with a considerable cost
to ratepayers to decontaminate. The council
Council also intends to work with the industry to will liaise with the State to have a campaign
encourage reduction and separation at source to advise homeowners of the dangers and the
to reduce their costs through eco-efficiency. need to use professional asbestos companies
to handle their waste.
Council will also ensure that all C and D waste
managers on the Coast contribute to its goal of Council will also play a role in driving demand
sustainability by requiring all operators to meet for recycled C and D, particularly crushed
a minimum standard of recycling. That way, all concrete as a sub-base, non-structural concrete
operators are on a level playing field without and drainage media. SCRC already has a
jeopardising the higher goals. purchasing policy that favours recycled goods
by 10 per sent tender price margin and SCRC
Historically and probably for the life of this commitment to purchase recycled concrete
Strategy, construction and not demolition will at market cost will give potential partners a
dominate the building industry waste stream on strong market segment on which to base their
the Sunshine Coast. As construction waste is business.
half the quantity of demolition and is generated

Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014 49

7 Construction and demolition waste

Reduction Recycling

Target Target
100 per cent of builders aware of where to Council and other operators will recycle 70 per
source information and assistance to reduce cent of received C and D waste.
their wastes and their costs.
How will we get there?
How will we get there? SCRC will identify a suitable partner or
Council will include builders in its eco-efficiency partners with a strong track record for best
program to get a competitive and sustainability practice recycling and marketing to locate on
advantage in its building industry and look to council’s sites. Council will either get the State
produce a similar handbook and program as Government to require all licensed operators to
the very successful partnership between the meet a minimum recycling level or will pass a
Victorian EPA and Arcadian Solutions. Local Law to that effect.

SCRC will also purchase recycled products
when fit for purpose and market priced.

Table 20: Construction and demolition wastes: Reduction implementation

Actions Priority When KPI

Discourage non-separated wastes by a significant High 2010 Decreasing loads of non-
price premium. segregated waste

Include the building industry in the eco-efficiency High 2011>> 30 per cent of SC builders
program and produce a builders handbook. with waste minimisation
plans by 2014
Examine sponsoring an industry award for the 'greenest' Low 2012
builder of the year, preferably through an existing award Council decision
competition.

Table 21: C and D wastes: Recycling implementation Priority When KPI
High 2010 Partnership
Actions signed
Call an EoI for potential partners to invest in C and D High 2010 10 per cent less
recycling plants utilising SCRC sites. mixed waste pa
Inclusion in State
Provide clear pricing signals to drive separation. Waste Strategy

Lobby the State Government to require all C and D licensed Medium 2010 Include in
waste managers to meet a 70 per cent recycling target and contracts
pass a Local Law if the State Government does not act. Medium 2010 Tonnes traded
Medium 2011
Ensure council has access to recycled products from private Medium 2011 Tonnes of recycled
sector partners. concrete used

Include recycled timber on web-based waste exchange
register/ shop.

Ensure SCRC purchases recycled concrete when fit for
purpose in preference to virgin rock.

50 Sunshine Coast Waste Minimisation Strategy 2009-2014