Harden
Indicator: Solid Waste
Results for this indicator are also available for [an error occurred while processing this directive]
Please note: Text or data highlighted in this colour represent an update to this indicator for the period 2008/09.
What the results tell us for Harden
Harden Shire Council recently adopted the Harden Shire Waste Strategy 2008, which forms the framework for waste management in the Shire, and sets a target of a reduction in waste to landfill of 50% by 2010. Town residents are provided with a weekly kerbside garbage collection service and a fortnightly recycling service, commencing August 2008. Rural residents have access to the Shire’s transfer stations using a voucher system, and all residents can freely access drop off points for recyclables.
Figures from this reporting period show a drop in total waste generation of 6% over the period, with a rise in waste to landfill being countered by a large drop in materials recycled from 2004-08.
Some figures show wide variation from year to year, and Council notes that this may reflect errors in data capture, such as conversion problems in converting materials usually measured in items or cubic metres into tonnages. Thus the given data may not reflect quantities of some materials accurately. However, data collection improved towards the end of the reporting period and with the use of weighbridges at the regional landfill site and the collection of kerbside recyclables, some data will become more available and accurate in the future.
With the introduction of Council’s kerbside recycling program and the conversion of village landfills to transfer station the amount of recycling in Harden has increased significantly during the 2008-09 period thus reducing the amount of waste going to landfill. In addition Council will be offering a free drop-off of large household items once a year. Council is also cooperating with Young and Boorowa Councils to undertake an e waste collection in the latter part of 2009. Council also offers free drop off for domestic quantities of green waste to further reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
The waste stream
Council commenced converting its landfill sites to transfer stations in 2005, finalising this process in 2008, and now does not operate any landfills. Although the Bald Hill Regional Waste Facility (landfill site) at Jugiong is within Harden Shire it is privately run and services the needs of eight nearby Councils. This facility became operational in July 2004. It is anticipated that the Bald Hill facility will provide for the waste needs of the eight member Shires for the next 50 years, removing the need for them to establish their own replacement landfills.
The total amount of waste that Council addressed in 2007-08 was 1962 tonnes (Table 1). This represents a total generation of 530kg per resident for this year, of which 116kg was recycled (down from almost 200kg in 2004-05) and the remainder sent to landfill.
| Volumes of waste | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | % Change 04-05 to 07-08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled (tonnes) | 732 | 416 | 724 | 429 | -41% |
| Recycled (% of total*) | 35% | 17% | 32% | 22% | -38% |
| To landfill (tonnes) | 1,351 | 2,055 | 1,567 | 1,533 | 14% |
| To landfill (% of total*) | 65% | 83% | 68% | 78% | 20% |
| Total | 2,082 | 2,471 | 2,290 | 1,962 | -6% |
* Percentage of total waste stream (landfill plus resource recovery); Data source: Harden Shire Council and South West Region Waste Management Group (SWRWMG)landfill statistics.
Waste to landfill
The types of waste going to landfill during the reporting period are shown in Table 2. Council reports that building and demolition waste is not sent to landfill but separated, sorted and reused or recycled at a transfer station.
During the 2008-09 period Council developed plans to begin diverting demolition waste traditionally sent to landfill (in instances where it is clean and inert) for rehabilitation works at Council pit sites. Council is currently awaiting DA approval in order to begin this initiative in 2009-10.
| 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 | 1350.62 | 2055.1 | 1566.76 | 1532.99 | 14% |
| Domestic collection | 1177.88 | 1680.26 | 1377.66 | 1323.09 | 12% |
| Private delivery* | 172.74 | 374.84 | 189.1 | 209.9 | 22% |
| Commercial and industrial** | See note | See note | See note | See note | See note |
| Building and demolition | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| Total | 1350.62 | 2055.1 | 1566.76 | 1532.99 | 14% |
*This category includes all non Council vehicles, i.e. residents and private waste collection contractors.
**Commercial and industrial waste is included in the totals given, but tonnages are unable to be separated out from domestic waste because it is collected in the same vehicles.
Source: Harden Shire Council and SWRWMG landfill statistics.
Illegal dumping occurs infrequently in Harden Shire and is generally not considered a significant problem. However, Council’s website notes an increase in illegal dumping at the village transfer stations in the last 12 months. No records are kept of dumped materials.
Recycling and other actions to reduce waste
Data is somewhat incomplete on recycling in Harden Shire and as such does not give the whole picture of the recycling efforts of the community (see Table 3). Several large figures in some categories have given results which are hard to interpret but these figures may be errors in data collection. No breakdown is available for materials collected through the kerbside recycling service.
| Material recycled | 2004-05 (tonnes) | 2005-06 (tonnes) | 2006-07 (tonnes) | 2007-08 (tonnes) | % Change 04-05 to 07-08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acid Lead Batteries | No data | No data | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0 |
| Aluminium | No data | No data | No data | No data | 0 |
| Clothing | No data | No data | No data | No data | 0 |
| Cooking oil and fat | No data | No data | No data | No data | 0 |
| Demolition | 300 | 99.2 | 132 | 82.14 | -73% |
| Garden waste/compost | 42.4 | 126 | 400 | 131 | 209% |
| Glass | 4 | 2 | No data | 0.25 | -94% |
| Liquid paper board | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Metals (ferrous) | 182.2 | 185.3 | 189.6 | 205 | 13% |
| Motor oil | No data | No data | No data | 0.75 | |
| Paper | 11 | No data | No data | 8.37 | -24% |
| Plastic | 5 | 2 | No data | No data | 0 |
| Salvage and reuse | |||||
| Steel cans | 182.2 | No data | No data | No data | 0 |
| Tyres (Units) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -80% |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total tonnes recovered | 731.8 | 415.5 | 723.5 | 428.81 | -41% |
Source: Harden Shire Council
Resource implications of waste
Investment in waste management dropped from 2005-06 to 2007-08 to remain slightly below the 2004-05 figure of $1 368 000 (see Table 4). Nevertheless the 2007-08 figure of $1 318 000 represents a relatively high investment of approximately $356 per capita.
| Period | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | 123,000 | 161,000 | 412,000 | 356,000 |
| Other | 1,245,000 | 974,000 | 794,000 | 962,000 |
| Total | 1,368,000 | 1,135,000 | 1,206,000 | 1,318,000 |
Source: Harden Shire Council
About the data
Data were provided from Harden Shire Council records and SWRWMG landfill tonnage records.
An unofficial estimate of 3700 was made for the Shire population in 2007-08 as official figures are not yet available.
References
Harden Shire Council website http://www.harden.nsw.gov.au/environment/1023.html
NSW Department of Local Government, Comparative Information http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au.
