Major upgrade opens at Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre

A major upgrade of the Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre has been completed, with Tweed Shire Council unveiling improvements designed to increase recycling, reduce landfill and improve access for visitors.

The upgrade includes a new waste and recycling transfer station, expanded covered drop-off areas, a larger JUNKtion Tip Shop, a new weighbridge and entrance road, upgraded signage and 1.6km of new road incorporating more than 10,000 tonnes of recycled concrete.

A key feature of the project is the addition of covered areas for cardboard and salvaged goods, aimed at preventing recyclable materials from being damaged by rain.

In the past, wet cardboard often became unsuitable for recycling and was sent to landfill.

The council estimates the new covered facilities will divert about 134 tonnes of material from landfill each year.

The upgrade also includes improvements to the JUNKtion Tip Shop, where reusable items are salvaged and resold. The facility now has a separate entrance and more parking, allowing visitors to access the shop without passing through the weighbridge.

The works form part of the council’s Towards Zero Waste target, adopted in 2018, and represent the middle stage of a long-term master plan developed in 2017 following consultation with the community, businesses, councillors and the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

The master plan aims to ensure the Stotts Creek facility can meet the region’s waste and recycling needs over the next two decades as the Tweed population continues to grow.

Future stages of the master plan will include treating leachate to remove long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS and working with different levels of government to find a way to deal with embedded batteries. There will also be improvements to stormwater infrastructure and a new landfill to accommodate future demand, along with a quarry on adjoining land.