BALLINA Shire Council will receive nearly $35,000 in state funding to support its long-term plans in waste management and new initiatives around recycling and sustainability.<\/p>\n
The funding comes from the NSW Environment Protection Authority as part of the $2.9 million Local Government Waste Solutions fund program.<\/p>\n
It supports a circular economy model which aims to divert textile waste from landfill by working by shifting community behaviours and promote reuse and repair.<\/p>\n
Textiles are one of the most common items by volume found in landfill bins across the Ballina shire.<\/p>\n
Council already runs a variety of clothes swap and workshop programs to reduce waste.<\/p>\n
The funding will be used for its new Creating a Circular Clothing Community project.<\/p>\n
Ballina MP Tamara Smith said the community project aims to keep resources out of landfill, while moving the state towards a circular economy.<\/p>\n
“We know clothing waste is a major pollutant. I will be excited to follow along as this program gets underway,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I look forward to seeing the exciting opportunities this opens for Ballina communities. Moving to a circular economy not only protects our environment into the future but also strengthens communities and local economies.”<\/p>\n
Ballina is one of 13 councils sharing $2.9 million under the current funding model.<\/p>\n
The next round of funding opens in September with councils and regional waste groups in the waste levy paying area eligible to apply.<\/p>\n
NSW Environment Protection Authority executive director of programs and innovation Alexandra Geddes said projects around landfill and waste will be crucial over the next five years.<\/p>\n
“We need to work with councils and communities to plan for, design and pilot new ways of managing, recovering and reusing waste,” she said.<\/p>\n
“This funding aims to tackle local waste and resource recovery challenges by delivering innovative community-specific solutions.<\/p>\n
“Councils and waste groups are at the forefront of managing waste for their communities and they are pivotal to our transition to a circular economy.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLINA Shire Council will receive nearly $35,000 in state funding to support its long-term plans in waste management and new initiatives around recycling and sustainability. The funding comes from the NSW Environment Protection Authority as part of the $2.9 million Local Government Waste Solutions fund program. It supports a circular economy model which aims to […]<\/p>\n