Funding boost to help council create sustainable future with recycling program

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 divert textile waste from landfill by working by shifting community behaviours and promote reuse and repair.

Textiles are one of the most common items by volume found in landfill bins across the Ballina shire.

Council already runs a variety of clothes swap and workshop programs to reduce waste.

The funding will be used for its new Creating a Circular Clothing Community project.

Ballina MP Tamara Smith said the community project aims to keep resources out of landfill, while moving the state towards a circular economy.

“We know clothing waste is a major pollutant. I will be excited to follow along as this program gets underway,” she said.

“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.”

Ballina is one of 13 councils sharing $2.9 million under the current funding model.

The next round of funding opens in September with councils and regional waste groups in the waste levy paying area eligible to apply.

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.

“We need to work with councils and communities to plan for, design and pilot new ways of managing, recovering and reusing waste,” she said.

“This funding aims to tackle local waste and resource recovery challenges by delivering innovative community-specific solutions.

“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.”