Background

Council has identified the need to develop a guiding strategy for Waste and Resource Recovery Services until 2030. The strategy will align with the Victorian government's Recycling Victoria policy. The Policy has actions for local government, including standarisation of bins, introduction of a universal food organics garden organics (FOGO) service and targeting of illegal dumping. The ultimate aim is to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfill by 2030, with an interim target of 72 per cent by 2025.

Hume Clean Taskforce

In May 2021 it was endorsed that the formation of an advisory committee takes place to help Council create community pride through a well-designed and maintained City by focusing on addressing waste and litter related issues, including the management of illegal dumping with key community and government stakeholders. It will do so by:

  • Having direct input into the development and coordination of waste and litter prevention, education, and management strategies
  • Raising awareness about illegal waste and litter dumping and enforcement matters
  • Helping Council achieve its waste reduction and resource recovery targets.

How to participate

Before developing Hume's Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy we want to understand what people are currently doing to reduce the amount of waste they generate, how they try to avoid waste going into landfill and if there are other measures they are using. Council also needs to understand if there are any barriers to using the services provided such as the three bin system, hard waste collections and tip passes.

A series of focused conversations were held to discuss issues concerning waste reduction, management and resource recovery. 

  1. Food and green waste present Council’s greatest opportunity to divert waste away from landfill, representing about half of our garbage bins each week. Ella from Compost Community was our guest presenter talking all things composting and green waste recovery from her 20 years of experience in the waste industry.
  2. Items too big for the bin present a big challenge for both residents and Council. How do we dispose of large items and what happens when we get it wrong? Michelle Wattus joined us as a special guest to discuss the current hard waste options Hume offers as well as other options available in the industry.
  3. Reducing waste is a challenge for all Victorians, the Victorian government has set a target to reduce waste generation by 15% by 2030. Michelle Wattus is an environmental consultant with 20 years of experience in looking in bins.

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