Cootamundra
Indicator: Solid Waste
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
What the results tell us for Cootamundra
The waste stream generated by Cootamundra Shire residents increased by 52% in the reporting period, to reach a peak of 9950 tonnes in 2007-08. Of this, Cootamundra Shire Council area achieved a 40% resource recovery and 60% went to landfill. Cootamundra Shire Council introduced kerbside recycling to some residents during this period. This change in the waste system may account for many of the changes seen, such as a higher rate of recovery of recyclables and apparent rise in waste to landfill, which is at least in part likely to be a result of better data capture rather than an actual rise in generation.
Volumes of most materials in the waste stream increased over the four years, particularly building and demolition waste. The volume of private delivery waste decreased. A steady increase in resource recovery was also seen, with large increases in steel cans, demolition waste and aluminium. Increases in both the landfill and recycling portions of the waste stream meant that the total amount of waste per resident increased from about 900kg in 2004-05 to 1,300kg in 2007-08. While this is high relative to some similar rural Shire Councils, the higher tonnage may simply reflect a more complete set of data.
The waste stream
Total waste generation increased over the reporting period, as did the amount of resources recovered (Table 1).
| Volumes of waste | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | % Change 04-05 to 07-08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled (tonnes) | 2,671 | 2,888 | 3,404 | 4,273 | 60% |
| Recycled (% of total*) | 41% | 39% | 40% | 43% | 2% |
| To landfill (tonnes) | 3,863 | 4,553 | 5,051 | 5,677 | 47% |
| To landfill (% of total*) | 59% | 61% | 60% | 57% | -2% |
| Total | 6,534 | 7,441 | 8,455 | 9,950 | 52% |
* percentage of total waste stream (landfill plus resource recovery)
Source: Cootamundra Shire Council
Waste generation rose steadily from approximately 900kgs to 1,300kg per capita for the reporting period. Almost half (40%, on average) of each tonne generated was recycled, while the rest (60%) went to landfill. The recycling rate of 40% represents an impressive gain on the 11-12% recycling rate reported in the 2004 State of Environment Report.
Waste to landfill
The types of waste going to landfill during the reporting period are shown in Table 2. There have been increases in all types, particularly building and demolition waste which shows a very steep increase. The 2006-07 period saw a minor boom in building activity in Cootamundra with two new estates opening and around 25 to 30 new dwellings being constructed in association with the usual amount of demolitions and addition projects. The only decrease was in privately delivered waste—identified by Shire Council as being due to increased dumping charges.
| Type of waste going to landfill | 2004-05 (tonnes) | 2005-06 (tonnes) | 2006-07 (tonnes) | 2007-08 (tonnes) | % Change 04-05 to 07-08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total household | 2919 | 2913 | 2892 | 3551 | 22% |
| Domestic collection | 2401 | 2384 | 2468 | 3172 | 32% |
| Private delivery | 518 | 529 | 424 | 379 | -27% |
| Commercial and industrial | 824 | 1162 | 1234 | 1266 | 54% |
| Building and demolition | 120 | 478 | 925 | 860 | 617% |
| Total | 3863 | 4553 | 5051 | 5677 | 47% |
Source: Cootamundra Shire Council
Cootamundra Shire has three landfill sites at Cootamundra, Wallendbeen and Stockinbingal. In 2005-06 the Cootamundra site became primarily a transfer station with delivered waste being compacted and taken to the Jugiong landfill site in Harden Shire Council area. Builders rubble and a small quantity of putrescible waste continue to be landfilled here.
The amount of illegally dumped waste in the Cootamundra Shire in this reporting period was negligible and has not been recorded.
Recycling and other actions to reduce waste
Some increases in resource recovery have been observed in the Cootamundra Shire over the four years to 2007-08. Tonnage of most recycled items increased, particularly steel cans, demolition materials and aluminium (see Table 4). Paper, plastic, glass and garden materials recovery also increased. A number of contributing factors have been identified: increased population and waste generated; increased education and awareness of available recycling services; and increased efficiencies in the materials sorting processes.
Decreased tonnage is shown for ferrous metals (i.e.- bulk scrap steel) and vehicle batteries. A reason identified for this is increasing value of these items at scrap metal yards (Cootamundra has three). As a result, people are more likely to recycle these items for money rather than deposit them at the landfill site. Thus is it likely that while Shire Council figures show a decrease in those metals recovered by Shire Council, the amount of metals being recycled privately in the Shire is likely to be high.
| Material recycled | 2004-05 (tonnes) | 2005-06 (tonnes) | 2006-07 (tonnes) | 2007-08 (tonnes) | % Change 04-05 to 07-08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acid Lead Batteries | 3.99 | 0 | 6.58 | 2.84 | -29% |
| Aluminium | 4.46 | 11.96 | 13.71 | 14.81 | 232% |
| Clothing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooking oil and fat | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Demolition | 145.5 | 212.81 | 577.54 | 641.85 | 341% |
| Garden waste/compost | 1450.3 | 1491.2 | 1572.38 | 2049.96 | 41% |
| Glass | 252.51 | 244.68 | 383.34 | 381.97 | 51% |
| Liquid paper board | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Metals (ferrous) | 334.37 | 332.4 | 74.87 | 100.48 | -70% |
| Motor oil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Paper | 423.23 | 517.18 | 656.33 | 934.52 | 121% |
| Plastic | 49.28 | 56.08 | 77.29 | 107.46 | 118% |
| Salvage and reuse | |||||
| Steel cans | 7.21 | 21.93 | 41.77 | 39.11 | 442% |
| Tyres (Units) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total tonnes recovered | 2670.85 | 2888.24 | 3403.81 | 4273 | 60% |
Source: Cootamundra Shire Council
Resource implications of waste
In 2007-08, Council invested well over a million dollars in waste management and resource recovery (Table 5). This was substantially more than that in which was invested in for each of the previous three years. There was a sharp increase in investment in garbage collection investment in 2007-08 compared with the previous year, as this period saw the introduction of a duel bin collection system. Council purchased all new bins and a new collection vehicle.
| Period | 2005-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garbage Collection | $240 759 | $280 435 | $317 704 | $675 819 |
| Depot Management | $612 418 | $656 076 | $424 538 | $579 918 |
| Resource Recovery | $99 968 | $96 468 | $107 646 | $108 661 |
| Total | $953 145 | $1 032 979 | $849 888 | $1 364 398 |
Source: Cootamundra Shire Council
The total landfill area for the three landfill sites in Cootamundra Shire was reported to be 1.1 hectares.
About the data
Data were provided from Cootamundra Shire Council records and Cootamundra Shire Council website.
Per capita calculations were based on residential population figures for 2004-05 to 2006-07. The population was estimated at 7,550 in 2007-08 as official figures are not yet available.
References
NSW Department of Local Government, Comparative Information http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au.
State of the Environment Report 2004, http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/soe/soe2004/Cootamundra/solidwaste.html
Cootamundra Shire Council website, http://www.cootamundra.local-e.nsw.gov.au/
