Gundagai

Indicator: Solid Waste

Results for this indicator are also available for   [an error occurred while processing this directive]

What the results tell us for Gundagai

The total waste stream generated by Gundagai Shire residents increased by 36% in the reporting period 2004-08. Of the total waste generated, Gundagai achieved, on average, 41% resource recovery and 59% to landfill in 2007-08, a similar proportion to 2005-06 and 2006-07.

While the total amount of waste generated appears to have risen considerably, most of the increase is accounted for by a large rise in recycled materials, with only a small increase in materials taken to landfill.

Investment in waste management increased steadily over the reporting period, and more sharply in the last year (2007-08).

The waste stream

Gundagai Shire is a signatory to the regional waste management plan—‘No Time to Waste’—which has been developed through the Riverina Eastern Regional Organisation of Councils (REROC) group. In line with the goals of this plan, Council has initiated new arrangements for landfilling waste generated in the Shire at a joint regional facility, and begun the provision of kerbside recycling to Shire residents. These two features form the basis for a new total waste management package for the Gundagai Shire Council. For urban residents, Council now provides a weekly household waste collection service (120 L. bins), a twice weekly commercial waste collection service and a fortnightly collection of recyclable items (240 L bins).

A weighbridge is used at both the recycling recovery centre and the regional landfill, enabling an accurate picture to be gathered of waste generation activities in the Shire.

The total volume of waste generated in Gundagai Shire increased by 36% over the four year reporting period (Table 1). Economic growth in the town is given as the reason for the small rise in materials taken to landfill, with the introduction of kerbside recycling being responsible for the large increase in those materials.

Table 1. Resource recovery in relation to total waste generation in Gundagai area, July 2004 to June 2008
Volumes of waste 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 % Change 04-05 to 07-08
Recycled (tonnes) 230 560 560 570 148%
Recycled (% of total*) 22% 41% 41% 41% 83%
To landfill (tonnes) 805 821 805 835 4%
To landfill (% of total*) 78% 59% 59% 59% -24%
Total 1,035 1,381 1,365 1,405 36%

* Percentage of total waste stream (landfill plus resource recovery); Source: Gundagai Shire Council

The population of the Gundagai Shire remained fairly stable in the three years to 2006-07, at an average of 3,829 people (population figures for 2007-08 not yet available). Total waste generated per capita has been calculated as approximately 370kg. This is an increase of nearly 50% from the 2004 figure of 247kg per capita, but remains low compared to other nearby areas. Of this, about one third was recycled and two thirds went to landfill.

Waste to landfill

Gundagai Shire Council is a member of the South West Region Waste Management Group (the SWRWMG group), which comprises Boorowa, Cootamundra, Gundagai, Harden, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Yass and Young Councils. All use the Jugiong landfill facility in Harden Shire. Collected waste is taken directly from Gundagai to the landfill site. Gundagai’s previous landfill site has now been converted to a transfer station for the past two years, where tipping fees now apply for privately delivered waste. There are no other active landfill sites in Gundagai Shire.

The types of waste going to landfill during the reporting period are shown in Table 2. Total waste going to landfill showed only a small increase (4%) over the four years, with the small increase being spread throughout the different sources of waste. While waste to landfill has risen a small amount, it remains far lower than the previous reporting period which averaged 941 tonnes per year. It is likely that the difference represents recyclable materials which were previously being landfilled but are now diverted into the recycling stream.

Table 2. Estimated type of waste to landfill in Gundagai area, July 2004 to June 2008
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 700 725 700 720 3%
Domestic collection 650 670 660 660 2%
Private delivery 50 55 40 60 20%
Commercial and industrial 40 36 45 45 13%
Building and demolition 65 60 60 70 8%
Total 805 821 805 835 4%

Source: Gundagai Shire Council

Council reported that restricted access to landfill and the transfer station always means that a small amount of illegal dumping occurs. It has been estimated that approximately one tonne of waste would be dumped each year, but no figures are kept.

Recycling and other actions to reduce waste

Council introduced kerbside recycling in 2004 to approximately 700 Gundagai households. Kerbside recycling has not yet been introduced to outlying villages, but drop off facilities for recyclables are open to all residents. The response from residents has been described as excellent, with recycling collection weights representing over a third of the total waste collected. All collected recyclables are transported to a recycling centre at Cootamundra, about 50 kms away.

Resource recovery figures were provided only for garden waste and metals. No breakdown was available for the products collected in the kerbside recycling system, but an aggregated figure (estimation) is given in Table 3. Increases were shown for garden waste (33%) and metals (30%). The addition of the kerbside recycling service meant an overall increase of 148% for all resource recovery in Gundagai Shire over the reporting period.

Table 3. Resource recovery by type (stream) in Gundagai area, July 2004 – June 2008
Material recycled 2004-05 (tonnes) 2005-06 (tonnes) 2006-07 (tonnes) 2007-08 (tonnes) % Change 04-05 to 07-08
Acid Lead Batteries 0 0 0 0 0
Aluminium 0 0 0 0 0
Clothing 0 0 0 0 0
Cooking oil and fat 0 0 0 0 0
Demolition 0 0 0 0 0
Garden waste/compost 30 40 40 40 33%
Glass 0 0 0 0 0
Liquid paper board 0 0 0 0 0
Metals (ferrous) 200 250 250 260 30%
Motor oil 0 0 0 0 0
Paper 0 0 0 0 0
Plastic 0 0 0 0 0
Salvage and reuse         0
Steel cans 0 0 0 0 0
Tyres (Units) 0 0 0 0 0
Domestic kerbside recycling * 0 270 270 270 0
Total tonnes recovered 230 560 560 570 148%

*This is an estimation of kerbside recyclables collected, based on the weekly tonnage given by the GSC recycling truck driver John Jones. No breakdown of materials is available.

Source: Gundagai Shire Council

Resource implications of waste

Investment in waste management is shown in Table 5. This increased over the four year reporting period, by $5000 for each year from 2004-05 to 2006-07, and a larger increase of $20,000 to 2007-08. For the first three years of the reporting period, this was approximately $67 per capita, per year.

Table 4. Investment in waste management and resource recovery in Gundagai area, July 2004 – June 2008
Period 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Total 250,000 255,000 260,000 280,000

Source: Gundagai Shire Council

The current annual fee for households is $254 per year.

About the data

Data were provided from Gundagai Shire Council records and staff estimates.

Per capita figures for 2007-08 were based on an unofficial estimate of a Shire population of 3820 as official figures are not yet available.

Gundagai Shire Council is a member of the REROC group, which initiates resource related projects for member Councils. More details can be obtained from the REROC website http://www.reroc.com.au/waste.htm.

References

Office of the Commissioner for the Environment (2004) Australian Capital Region State of the Environment Report 2004, Office of the Commissioner for the Environment, Canberra (see indicator ‘Solid Waste' under Boorowa). http://www.envcomm.act.gov.au/soe/soe2004/Gundagai/solidwaste.htm

NSW Department of Local Government, Comparative Information

http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au.

 

Gundagai Shire Council

http://www.gundagai.nsw.gov.au/environment/1021/1023.html

 

Top of page...