Snowy River
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 Snowy River
The waste generation patterns of residents of Snowy River Shire are unclear as there has been inconsistent data collection throughout this period. Some waste and recycling streams have been collected and/or disposed of without being recorded. Landfill figures prior to 2006 are estimates only as a weighbridge has only been in operation at the Jindabyne landfill since 2006. Therefore, apparent large increases in quantities throughout this Report usually indicate improvements in data collection rather than rises in actual quantities of materials generated. Data collection in the last year of the period appears to be nearing a complete picture, and several more years’ collection of data from the same waste streams will give a more consistent guide in the future.
The waste stream
Snowy River Shire Council is currently developing a strategic plan for waste disposal and recycling in the Shire for the next 15-20 years. Snowy River Shire Council, Cooma-Monaro Shire Council and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) have formed a Regional Waste Committee which addresses waste and recycling issues in the region as well as education for the snowy mountains area. The Committee is currently investigating a composting project which will recycle organic material and biosolids to produce compost.
Council provides Jindabyne, Adaminaby, Berridale, Lakewood, Tyrolean Village, Kalkite, High Country and Leesville residents with a weekly kerbside garbage collection, and a fortnightly collection of recyclables in crates has been in operation since 2001. Residents of rural areas have access to the Shire’s landfills through an identification system linked to rates. All residents may dispose of recyclables at drop off points within the landfill sites at no charge. In addition to paper, cardboard, metal, plastic and glass containers, Council also accepts greenwaste, motor oil and scrap metals for recycling at its landfill sites.
In 2008-09 the total of waste and recyclables per capita rose to almost 880 kg (a rise of 20%), though the domestic component of waste to landfill was the same as the previous year. There was a small increase in the proportion of domestic waste that was recycled. It appears that changes to waste charges (including additional charges for extra bins) have had the positive effect of encouraging the community to recycle more of their domestic waste.
| Volumes of waste | 2004-05 (tonnes) | 2005-06 (tonnes) | 2006-07 (tonnes) | 2007-08 (tonnes) | 2008-09 (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled | 455 | 424 | 570 | 2104 | 2,986 |
| Recycled (% of total*) | 22% | 20% | 13% | 34% | 42% |
| To landfill (domestic) | 1,580 | 1,704 | 2,288 | 2,150 | 2,111 |
| To landfill (% of total*) | 78% | 80% | 53% | 39% | 30% |
| To landfill (commercial)* | Not recorded | Not recorded | 1,439 | 1,467 | 1,921 |
| To landfill (% of total*) | Unknown | Unknown | 33% | 27% | 28% |
| Total | 2,035 | 2,128 | 4,297 | 5,721 | 6,928 |
Source: Snowy River Shire Council
*Please note that where data is incomplete, % change is given for the years provided and as such may not reflect longer term trends.
Waste to landfill
Council operates three landfills in the Shire at Jindabyne, Dalgety and Adaminaby, and a transfer station at Berridale. The total area of all active landfills is 15,453 ha. The Jindabyne landfill has had a major refurbishment in this reporting period, including the installation of a weighbridge in April 2006, and Council intends that it remain the area’s primary landfill for the foreseeable future.
The types of waste going to landfill during the reporting period are shown in Table 2. Waste taken to landfill from households in the area has gone up considerably (by 26%) although it appears that most of the increase has been in the private delivery of waste rather than through Council’s kerbside collection. A relatively large proportion of the waste (around 40%) is generated from commercial and industrial sources (although this data is only available for two years of the period). This may reflect the high levels of tourism in the region. The increase in waste collected from Commercial customers in 2008-9 was due to Kosciuszko National Park now disposing of their waste collected into Jindabyne landfill.
Building and demolition waste is currently being stockpiled for recycling when new equipment for processing and sorting comes online. It is expected that a small proportion of demolition waste (treated pine) will go to landfill but majority will be recycled.
| Type of waste going to landfill | 2004-05 (tonnes) | 2005-06 (tonnes) | 2006-07 (tonnes) | 2007-08 (tonnes) | 2008-09 (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total household | 1580 | 1704 | 2288 | 2150 | 2111 |
| Domestic collection | 1580 | 1500 | 1746 | 1629 | 1280 |
| Private delivery | Not recorded | 204 | 542 | 521 | 831 |
| Commercial and industrial | Not recorded | Not recorded | 1439 | 1467 | 1920 |
| Building and demolition | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Total | 1580* | 1704* | 3727 | 3617 | 5880 |
Source: Snowy River Shire Council
*These totals are not a complete record of waste to landfill for this year, as some waste streams have not been recorded. Therefore, the total percentage change has been calculated for the years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 only.
**Please note that where data is incomplete, % change is given for the years provided and as such may not reflect longer term trends.
Better collection and processing of data has enabled Council to record all illegal dumping for the first time in 2008-09. Illegal dumping amounted to nearly 17 tonnes, with 6.4 tonnes of household waste, 2.6 tonnes of asbestos and 7.9 tonnes of scrap steel (white goods).
Recycling and other actions to reduce waste
Recyclables collected in 2004-2008 reporting period are shown in Table 3. The last year shows an apparent jump in quantity; however this is unlikely to reflect the true situation as several recycling streams are recorded for the first time in this year. Council reports an increased uptake of recycling from many residents especially where services are co-mingled and additional sorting is not required. Most recycling streams which have been recorded over several years have not shown large changes in quantity over the period.
| Material recycled | 2004-05 (tonnes) | 2005-06 (tonnes) | 2006-07 (tonnes) | 2007-08 (tonnes) | 2008-09 (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acid Lead Batteries (units) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 400 units | 263 units |
| Aluminium | 0 | 2.1 | 4.1 | 1.54 | 1 |
| Cooking oil and fat (20 L drums) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 320 | 3450 |
| Demolition | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1153 | 1849 |
| Garden waste/compost (m3) | 0 | Not recorded | Not recorded | 1427 | 649 |
| Glass | 0 | 139.4 | 114.4 | 150.5 | 124.1 |
| Metals (ferrous) | 0 | 0 | 180 | 286 | 295 |
| Paper | 0 | 250.1 | 257.9 | 289.1 | 366.6 |
| Plastic | 0 | 25.8 | 9.7 | 6.579 | 7.2 |
| Steel cans | 0 | 6.6 | 4 | 3.25 | 2.5 |
| Tyres (Units) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 316 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 214 | 251 | |
| Total tonnes recovered | 455* | 424 | 570.1 | 2104*** | 2896.4 |
Source: Snowy River Shire Council
*No breakdown is available for this year
**Please note that where data is incomplete, % change is given for the years provided and as such may not reflect longer term trends.
***Recycling data for demolition and ferrous metals have been included in 2007-2008 which gives a more complete picture of the whole recycling stream but makes comparison with other years flawed. Items which have been measured in units other than tonnes are not included in this total
Resource implications of waste
Council’s investment in waste management during this period is shown Table 4. Investment jumped to a high of $1,836,000 or approximately $237 per resident in 2007-08 as Council undertook a major upgrade of the Jindabyne landfill. This figure dropped slightly to $213 per resident in 2008-09.
| Period | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | $1,422,000 | $1,519,000 | $1,836,000 | $1,984,000 |
Source: Snowy River Shire Council
About the data
Data were provided from Snowy River Shire Council records.
An unofficial estimate of 7,750 was made for Snowy River Shire’s population in 2007-08 as official figure was not yet available.
References
Snowy River Shire Council website http://www.snowyriver.nsw.gov.au/SRSC/STANDARD//PC_21.html
State of the Environment Report 2004, Snowy River Solid Waste, http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/soe/soe2004/SnowyRiver/solidwaste.htm
NSW Department of Local Government, Comparative Information http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au
