As the Chair of the Metropolitan Local Government Waste Forum, I view waste as a resource.
Often waste is viewed as an item we reject, discard and throw away. Consumerism, modern technology, our antiquated views, lack of mandatory product stewardship together with our disposal society is vastly to blame.
Did you know that the Hallam Landfill site will close in the next seven to ten years? With Melbourne’s current population growth, urgent strategic planning is required to address the excess waste generated. As our metropolitan landfills increase and landfill levy escalates we need to boost our resource recovery infrastructure, to cut costs. We need to reduce waste sent to landfill, increase commercial and residential organic waste recovery, deliver community and environmental benefits, plan for Darebin’s population growth and address consumer behavioural change. We need industry innovation and reduction of waste to landfill.
In order to undertake this we require to implement a superior hard rubbish service that addresses,Collection, recycle, repair and reuse solutions. Provide a weekly food organics bin, introduce a textile recovery service, ensure that a comprehensive waste service is provide to all multi-unit developments and commercial buildings, work with other councils to build a large scale anaerobic digestion facility, advocate for a superior Container Deposit Scheme in Victoria and toughen penalties for those who dump rubbish, chemicals and asbestos. Waste matters, economically, socially and environmentally.