THE City of Greater Geelong is leading a collaborative project with neighbouring councils to develop a new regional major waste and recycling hub in the region, with state government support.
\nThe facility would include technologies to improve the sorting of recyclables and the quality of recovered materials; a resource recovery centre supporting residents and businesses to recycle, recover and reuse goods and materials; and an efficient, cost-effective bulk haulage transfer station for the G21 councils.
\nThe project is being supported by the Recycling Victoria Councils Fund, which is delivered by Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the Victorian Government.
\nThe city will receive $80,000 through the fund to lead the preparation of a feasibility study into the initiative, with in-kind contributions from all
\nG21 councils.
\nThe study will include site assessments, analysis of different options and the development of a concept design for the preferred model.
\nCity of Greater Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said the hub would have considerable benefits for the five councils and their ratepayers.
\n\u201cThe recent recycling crisis and the fallout in the industry has highlighted the need to improve the waste and recycling infrastructure in the region and minimise our dependency on external markets,\u201d Cr Asher said.
\n\u201cCentralising operations through a purpose-built regional facility will reduce our exposure to market forces, increase efficiencies and reduce costs for residential collection services.\u201d
\nChair of the council\u2019s circular economy portfolio Cr Belinda Moloney said the project built on the strong established partnership among the G21 councils, with support from the Barwon South West Waste and Resource
\nRecovery Group.
\n\u201cAn innovative project of this scale could only be developed with the backing and input of all our regional councils,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cTo minimise the amount of waste going to landfill, we need to change the way we manage our resources.
\n\u201cAn integrated hub would set the whole region on a path to a circular economy and help us meet our wider environmental sustainability targets.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE City of Greater Geelong is leading a collaborative project with neighbouring councils to develop a new regional major waste and recycling hub in the region, with state government support. The facility would include technologies to improve the sorting of recyclables and the quality of recovered materials; a resource recovery centre supporting residents and businesses […]<\/p>\n