INVERELL Shire Council’s plans to upgrade its waste management and recycling facilities throughout the shire received a major boost thanks to a $417,187 grant from the NSW Government’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative (WLRM), Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall announced today.
Mr Marshall said the government’s WLRM program was launched two years ago and to date, more than $1.5 million in funding had been injected into several local council recycling projects across the Northern Tablelands.
“Over $12 million has been allocated state-wide to programs which deal with issues such as landfill consolidation and food waste avoidance and I’m delighted Inverell Shire Council has been successful in its three applications for funding,” he said.
“There was strong competition for the funding with only 63 grants approved across the state.
“One of the projects ($199,308) will see the council develop the Ashford rural landfill to a Waste Transfer Station.
“This will deliver environmental improvements to the site by reducing potential groundwater and surface water pollution, litter and vermin, fire, hazardous waste dumping, and improve work, health and safety issues for visitors and staff.
“It will provide the community with a secured supervised site, construction of waste loading platforms for waste separation, internal road improvements, effective signage and aesthetic improvements to litter control.”
Mr Marshall said council had received $31,317 to implement its program Food Waste Avoidance Education, a project set to inspire the community to reduce food waste.
“Council is aiming to increase the skills of residents in food waste avoidance by leading a multifaceted project based on comprehensive community engagement,” Mr Marshall said.
“This will include a fortnightly radio show, monthly column in the Inverell Times and a flagship event with a ‘pop-up kitchen’ featuring celebrity chef Mark Olive during the Sapphire City Festival.
“Each of these activities will teach residents about food waste and simple actions they can take to avoid it.”