Recycling is serious business these days in the wake of China’s restriction of Australian textiles, plastic and cardboard due to high contamination rates, and both state governments and local councils alike have been struggling to deal with what has now become known as the “recycling crisis.”
The Australian Government has pledged over $800m for waste management and recycling over a nine-year period, but some local councils are not convinced that this will be enough to cover rising costs for additional infrastructure and the implementation of new technology, particularly with high rates of population growth expected right across the Sydney metropolitan area.
The eastern city suburb of Randwick currently collects 52,000 tonnes of rubbish each year and diverts 56% of its waste from landfill.
Council’s 2017-2030 Waste Management Strategy Plan hopes to improve that figure over the next few years, with a target of 75% of all rubbish to be diverted from landfill and to increase its recycling to 70%.
In an effort to meet the council’s clean and green targets, residents and businesses are encouraged to consider using recycled paper products as an option when using printing services. Other suggestions include getting creative with wrapping, giving experiences as gifts rather than items, shopping locally, buying organic rather than artificial, and disposing correctly of garbage.
Randwick council runs a recycling centre, which is free to area residents. The centre is located at 72 Perry Street, Matraville.