We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, work, and play. Sovereignty was never ceded and this always was, always will be Aboriginal Land. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future and their continuing connection to country.

Shoalhaven Greens

Shoalhaven Greens – NSW Greens Branch

Recycling Matters

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The circular economy is the future economy. One person’s rubbish is another person’s resource.

Our culture exploits nature for resources. We wantonly discard resource-rich products like plastic bags and bottles; we stuff bins with containers, scraps and disposables. Go to any Shoalhaven tip to see fridges, mattresses and furniture alongside old bikes and BBQs. 

Reuse, reduce, recycle and upcycle is the best management system for resources. In nature, there is no rubbish or waste.

Shoalhaven City Council is a leader in the circular economy space. Our sewerage is returned, processed and used on farms. The award-winning Microfactorie produces tile products from waste fabric and glass. Tips have buy-back shops; most consumer goods – TVs, mattresses, computers – that reach the end of their useable life are broken down and recycled in some way. 

Shoalhaven Council is motivated to find world-class solutions to “waste” management because Council pays the NSW government urban waste fees. The Environmental Protection Agency collects money from councils but does not use it to invest in circular economy initiatives.

In 2018, Shoalhaven Council chose a solution in a world-leading technology that turns 98% of household waste into reuseable products. In Covid, the private partner developer went belly up, as so many construction businesses did. We lost that platinum-level circular economy solution. 

A new Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) will be up and running next year. This facility takes the yellow recycling bin, sorts it and turns it into saleable commodities. The MRF will sell this recycling service to neighbouring Councils creating extra income and extra jobs for our community. 

Finally, Green bins for Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) will be discussed during the next term of Council. Green bins can significantly reduce the amount of red bin waste going into landfill. They do add an extra bin charge for ratepayers. I will support the solution that offers the best circular economy outcome for the least cost to Shoalhaven residents.