QUEENSLANDERS ASKED TO REDUCE THEIR WASTE-LINES
Published Wednesday, 31 October, 2007 at 01:40 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Queenslanders are sending less household waste to landfill and are recycling more, according to the latest edition of the State Government’s annual State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland report.
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister Andrew McNamara said while the report delivered good news on the waste stream in Queensland, it was still important to look for new ways to reduce and recycle household waste.
“The State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland 2006 report provides a snapshot of Queensland recycling and disposal activities for 2005-06,” Mr McNamara said.
“It shows that Queenslanders generated 1.5 million tonnes of household waste.
“On average, Queenslanders sent 317 kg of waste to landfill, and recycled 58 kg of household waste per person per year.
“Compared to the previous year, this represents an 8 percent reduction in the amount of household waste sent to landfill and a 16 percent increase on the amount of household waste recycled per person.
“The new data shows Queenslanders have embraced actions such as kerbside recycling, but we still need to look at ways to reduce, reuse and recycle more.”
Mr McNamara said the Queensland Waste Strategy discussion paper released earlier this month proposes a range of options to stimulate debate on how best to manage and control waste into the future
“To secure longterm sustainability, we need to shift our thinking towards treating waste as a resource rather than as a problem.”
The discussion paper is available for public consultation until Friday 21 December 2007.
Mr McNamara said the State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland 2006 report shows local governments are playing a key role in diverting waste from landfill.
“The report shows that 52 councils provided a kerbside recycling service to 1.3 million households, or close to 90 percent of Queenslanders,” Mr McNamara said.
“Another 102 councils provide drop-off collection points for recyclable materials, which are deposit points for people who do not have a kerbside recycling service, and help people recycle items like batteries, tyres and gas cylinders that are not usually included in kerbside collection.
“The report shows Queenslanders have been making use of the increased number of recycling facilities, but everyone can do more to recycle the different kinds of waste, and there are opportunities to do so.
“One area where Queenslanders can do more, for example, is to compost their garden and kitchen waste.
“Bin audits conducted by one council revealed that garden and kitchen waste made up half the household waste sent to landfill.
“Similarly, Queenslanders can cut down on waste when they are shopping.
“By purchasing items with less packaging as well as recyclable packaging, Queenslanders can reduce their waste-lines.
“If every Queensland household used just one less plastic shopping bag per week when they do their grocery shopping, there would be about 89 million less bags used per year.”
Mr McNamara said the annual publication of the State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland report improved knowledge of waste management and resource recovery practices in Queensland.
“It helps us to assess how far Queensland has come, and how far we still have to travel to achieve sustainable resource usage,” he said.
The State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland 2006 report is available on the EPA website www.epa.qld.gov.au
Media contact – Peter McCarthy 3336 8004
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister Andrew McNamara said while the report delivered good news on the waste stream in Queensland, it was still important to look for new ways to reduce and recycle household waste.
“The State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland 2006 report provides a snapshot of Queensland recycling and disposal activities for 2005-06,” Mr McNamara said.
“It shows that Queenslanders generated 1.5 million tonnes of household waste.
“On average, Queenslanders sent 317 kg of waste to landfill, and recycled 58 kg of household waste per person per year.
“Compared to the previous year, this represents an 8 percent reduction in the amount of household waste sent to landfill and a 16 percent increase on the amount of household waste recycled per person.
“The new data shows Queenslanders have embraced actions such as kerbside recycling, but we still need to look at ways to reduce, reuse and recycle more.”
Mr McNamara said the Queensland Waste Strategy discussion paper released earlier this month proposes a range of options to stimulate debate on how best to manage and control waste into the future
“To secure longterm sustainability, we need to shift our thinking towards treating waste as a resource rather than as a problem.”
The discussion paper is available for public consultation until Friday 21 December 2007.
Mr McNamara said the State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland 2006 report shows local governments are playing a key role in diverting waste from landfill.
“The report shows that 52 councils provided a kerbside recycling service to 1.3 million households, or close to 90 percent of Queenslanders,” Mr McNamara said.
“Another 102 councils provide drop-off collection points for recyclable materials, which are deposit points for people who do not have a kerbside recycling service, and help people recycle items like batteries, tyres and gas cylinders that are not usually included in kerbside collection.
“The report shows Queenslanders have been making use of the increased number of recycling facilities, but everyone can do more to recycle the different kinds of waste, and there are opportunities to do so.
“One area where Queenslanders can do more, for example, is to compost their garden and kitchen waste.
“Bin audits conducted by one council revealed that garden and kitchen waste made up half the household waste sent to landfill.
“Similarly, Queenslanders can cut down on waste when they are shopping.
“By purchasing items with less packaging as well as recyclable packaging, Queenslanders can reduce their waste-lines.
“If every Queensland household used just one less plastic shopping bag per week when they do their grocery shopping, there would be about 89 million less bags used per year.”
Mr McNamara said the annual publication of the State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland report improved knowledge of waste management and resource recovery practices in Queensland.
“It helps us to assess how far Queensland has come, and how far we still have to travel to achieve sustainable resource usage,” he said.
The State of Waste and Recycling in Queensland 2006 report is available on the EPA website www.epa.qld.gov.au
Media contact – Peter McCarthy 3336 8004