Colac Otway urges community to continue reducing waste and packaging
Published on 06 March 2019
Colac Otway urges community to continue reducing waste and packaging
Colac Otway Shire Council has been able to limit the financial and environmental impact of the SKM Geelong plant closure through assistance from its waste contractor with collection of recyclable material over the past 10 days.
Council’s Infrastructure and Leisure Services General Manager Tony McGann said SKM proactively decided to temporarily close their Geelong site because Laverton and Coolaroo had been closed by the EPA.
“Fortunately, Council’s waste contractor Wheelie Waste has been able to take Colac Otway’s recyclable material to its own contracted recycler as an interim measure while SKM has been unable to accept recyclables at its Geelong plant,” Mr McGann said.
“We expected to be in the same situation as other Council’s in the area, with our recyclables having to go to landfill.
“However our waste contractor found us a short-term recycling option which has assisted greatly in reducing the projected amount of recyclables going to landfill.
“Wheelie Waste has saved about 85 tonnes of recyclables from going to landfill since SKM temporarily closed its doors.
“The cost of depositing the material through Wheelie Waste’s contractor rather than sending the recyclables to landfill saved Council about $6000.
“We need to thank the community who kept their recycling bins back from their fortnight collection and made an effort to reduce the amount of recyclable materials.
“Council is hopeful that its interim recycling arrangement will continue until SKM reopens its Geelong plant however this is unconfirmed.
“The SKM closures have emphasised the need for everyone to continue reducing waste and packaging, even if it can be recycled,” he said.
“Separating our waste is essential but as consumers we need to make smarter choices to reduce the amount of material and packaging that needs to be recycled as well as buying recycled goods whenever we can to make sure there is a market for our recyclable material.”