Mount Isa City Council in Queensland is moving ahead with plans to build a recycling transfer station, which will create jobs, increase sustainable practices and reduce operational costs.
Mayor Joyce McCulloch said the project has been raised many times throughout the years in Mount Isa, and the current Council is making it a priority.
“Every part of the Waste Management service whether it is recycling or landfill has a cost component that applies to all rate payers,” Mayor McCulloch said.
“The most cost effective way to reduce the cost impact is through recycling and diverting material from landfill.”
The new Waste Transfer Station will be a welcome addition to the Council landfill site, and will deliver a modern, safer and more convenient facility for residents.
Council’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Kitzelmann said Council understood the increase in community awareness around recycling.
Along with the development of the Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan, the Waste Management Team has investigated a way to provide members of the public with a financially feasible opportunity to recycle.
“Given the geographic remoteness of Mount Isa it is currently not a feasible option to provide residents with a kerbside recycling service, but the introduction of the Waste Transfer Station would allow for various waste streams to be sorted and recovered prior to the public disposing of general waste, which have previously gone to landfill,” Mr Kitzelmann said.
“This will be a service with enormous benefits to the community, and reduce our impact on the environment.
“Additionally, we think the new facility will attract local green industries, because of the opportunity to use and reprocess the recovered materials, promoting growth and potential jobs.”
The construction of a recycling tunnel and sales shop would allow various waste streams to be sorted and recovered prior to the public disposing of general waste.
Customers would enter the tunnel, unload recyclable waste types and proceed to the landfill to dispose of any general waste.
Proposed waste streams to be recovered in the tunnel include clean ferrous and non-ferrous metals, e-Waste, batteries, printer cartridges, mobile phones, cardboard and paper, glass, aluminium/tin cans, domestic engine oil, household gas bottles and recoverable household items for resale.
Funding from the $3.03 million delivered to Mount Isa under the Works for Queensland program, State Infrastructure Fund program will be utilised for the project, which is expected to begin mid-2017.
