The City of Busselton has decided against a three bin system in favour of household composting. Despite the success of the organic waste bins in Bunbury, the city has taken the view that a three bin system would be a costly exercise. Busselton currently recycles in excess of 14,000 tonnes of waste per year, 3,000 tonnes of which is comprised of organics, which are dropped-off at the community recycling areas at both waste facilities.
These organics are processed into mulch and recycled into compost. Busselton Director Engineering and Works Oliver Darby said the city was working with the community on a number of different ways to reduce waste.
“The city invested $2.5 million in a new waste landfill cell and liquid waste treatment facility at its Dunsborough Waste Facility over the last four years,” he said. “This capital project includes the first appropriately lined landfill site in the Southwest of WA which is owned and operated by a local government authority and will provide a critical role in securing waste management capacity in line with the most stringent environmental standards, well into the future. We have vastly improved the recycling of challenging waste streams like mattresses and plastic packaging waste, the city actively recovers the steel coil from mattresses thus reducing landfill disposal of this valuable resource.”
According to 2015 South West Waste Strategy, Busselton has diverted 34 per cent of waste from landfill rate. The City of Bunbury’s current waste diversion rate is 61 per cent.
Mr Darby said all plastic packaging materials could be recycled in Busselton including soft plastics and non-reusable plastic bags. The city was also finalising a new project to facilitate household composting Mr Darby said.
“This will allow residents to cut their waste in half and reduce their carbon footprint while making rich, natural, soil and fertiliser for their garden. This will be achieved without the extra carbon emissions that a dedicated collection of organics would entail.”