Contamination spikes in Tweed green waste collection

Tweed residents and commercial businesses are being asked to check their green waste load is free from contaminants like plastic and other non-organic materials. Photo: SUPPLIED

TWEED Shire Council is urging the community to exercise extra caution when self-hauling green waste following a recent spike in contamination at Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre.

Tweed Council’s project and operations officer, David Bell, said it was important to keep green waste free from contaminants such as plastic.

“Over the past year, we’ve processed around 5,500 tonnes of green waste into high-quality mulch that benefits our parks and open spaces instead of going to landfill,” Bell said.

“However, contamination from plastics and other non-compostable materials can render the mulch unusable. “If testing reveals the presence of these harmful items, the mulch must be sent to landfill.

Self-haul green waste is processed and converted into high-quality mulch which is then used on public land and sold to the community at a competitive price. Photo: SUPPLIED

“Not only is this a huge waste of a valuable resource but the community has to front the cost of this material being landfilled,” he said.

Residents and commercial operators can self-haul green waste to the centre, where it is processed, treated and tested in line with EPA requirements. The resulting mulch is then used on public land and sold for community use.

To help reduce contamination, the Council will increase green waste inspections at Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre. Contaminated loads will be rejected or redirected to a landfill, and disposal will be charged at landfill rates.

“If you’re self-hauling green waste to the tip, please ensure it contains only organic material such as grass clippings, tree branches, stumps and untreated timber,” Bell said.

For more information on what is accepted at the tip, visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/tip-resource-recovery