Cook Shire Council has adopted a Regional Resource Recovery Plan to guide waste management across the shire.
AN eight-step action plan to reduce household waste going to landfill and improve resource recovery has been mooted by Cook, Hope Vale and Wujal Wujal councils.
The councils, members of the 11-strong FNQ Regional Organisation of Councils, released a Regional Resource Recovery Plan last week which will help the local governments better manage waste.
Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott said it was time for the region to step up.
“The real need is for more focus, commitment and incentive at the household level,” Cr Scott said.
“With targeted state and federal funding support, local government is well placed to implement and assist our ratepayers and visitors in becoming personally responsible for environmental health and welfare.”
The plan outlines immediate through to long-term actions for Councils to reduce waste going to landfill, as well as improve resource recovery and economic development.
Among the key actions identified in the plan is better education, better services for rural and remote communities, new transfer stations and closure of existing landfills, better kerbside collection and developing a centralized resource recovery precinct.
FNQROC chair and Douglas Shire Council mayor Michael Kerr said the region faced a unique set of challenges in delivering cost effective and sustainable waste services.
“All councils in the region wrestle with issues such as access to secondary markets and transport costs and the increasing costs and difficulties in developing new waste infrastructure,” Cr Kerr said.
“The new plan will help provide clear direction for our Councils, and we can help ensure the best ‘bang for the buck’ investment in critical waste infrastructure and programs.”
