Your feedback revealed overwhelming support for organics waste service
Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the online waste survey back in February.
The community survey calling for people to have their say on the future of waste and resource recovery on the Sunshine Coast, including a third bin to capture food and garden waste (FOGO) closed on Tuesday 2 March, 2021.
We had 7500 responses from people of all walks-of-life and from right across our region which is the among the highest number we’ve received for a consultation!
Behind the scenes we’ve been busy analysing the data. For the eight open ended questions where respondents were asked to include their own comments. There were more than 35,000 responses – that’s a lot of information!
What you told us
You spoke LOUD and CLEAR – recycling and diverting organic waste from landfill; and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting our environment are important to you.
Our response
On Thursday 22 July 2021, council made the decision to roll out an opt-out garden waste bin service to Sunshine Coast households from July 2022.
Your feedback on recycling and how we should mange waste in the future was vital in council’s decision-making process.
The benefits
A region-wide garden waste bin service will divert garden clippings, weeds and leaves from landfill, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and potentially save property owners paying the full cost of the Queensland Government Waste Levy.
Almost 30 per cent of households already use the garden bin service and, with an increased number of properties participating, garden bin collection costs will come down from July 2022.
Council, Commonwealth and State governments have established waste strategies and policies which each contain targets to divert waste from landfill.
Our target is to divert 55 per cent of household waste from landfill by 2025.
We are currently diverting 37 per cent, however if each household has a garden waste bin, it is forecast that our region will move to 42 per cent.
This makes a big difference due to the cumulative effect of organic waste going into landfill.
It will extend our landfill life and when transitioned to a FOGO service will prevent more than one million tonnes of methane and carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere over the next 30 to 50 years.
This is important because it takes 30–50 years for waste to break down – so it’s not just what you put into it today, it’s the impact of the emissions generated for the next 50 years.
In reverse, there is a positive outcome. Reduce landfill waste today and we benefit for the next 30–50 years and beyond.
That’s a massive saving and means the Sunshine Coast continues to play its part in the global fight against climate change.
Did you know it would take 826,761 seedlings grown for 10 years to absorb that amount of carbon? (Source)
The garden waste bin could also potentially save property owners paying the full cost of the Queensland Government Waste Levy from next July.
At the moment, the Queensland Government reimburses council for the State Waste Levy of $85 per tonne that applies to domestic households, however there is no guarantee that reimbursement will continue after 1 July 2022, meaning households could be faced with an extra $61.88 each year to dispose their rubbish.
Introducing a garden waste service will see more waste diverted from landfill, potentially reducing the levy costs.
In addition to reducing waste levy costs for participating ratepayers, this is an important first step on the journey to transitioning this third bin to a Food Organics and Garden Organics collection service to put us on the road to becoming a circular economy.
If council decides to introduce a FOGO collection service our community will be one of the first in Queensland to adopt it and benefit, joining more than 100 interstate councils across Australia.
Collection costs for the third bin will decrease even further because again, we are diverting more waste from landfill, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Council will keep residents informed of planned changes which won’t start until July 2022.
Some properties will be exempt, however the conditions of exemption are yet to be finalised.
For more on this expanded garden waste service head to our website.
Survey results
What do you do with your rubbish and garden waste?
- 83 percent use the general waste bin (dark red/dark green lid)
How committed is your household to recycling your waste?
- 86 per cent recycle everything and try not to put recyclables in the general waste bin
What is most important to you?
- 63 per cent said both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and keeping costs low were important
How important to you is it that council provide a service to reduce organic waste in landfill and convert recovered organic material to useful by-products?
- 84 per cent said it was extremely important or very important
How supportive are you of council implementing an opt-out garden waste bin to eligible households?
- 74 per cent strongly support or support it
Have you heard of FOGO before?
- 59 percent said no
How likely would you be to use a FOGO bin collection service if it was available?
- 78 percent said very likely or likely
How likely would you be to separate your food waste if a kitchen caddy and compostable bags were available from council?
- 83 percent said very likely or likely
How supportive are you of council implementing a FOGO waste service in the region?
- 82.5 per cent said strongly support or support
How important is the cost of a third bin garden or FOGO waste service to you?
- 54.5 per cent said extremely important or very important
Our Future Waste Consultation - February 2021
The community survey calling for people to have their say on the future of waste and resource recovery on the Sunshine Coast, including a third bin to capture food and garden waste (FOGO) closed on Tuesday 2 March, 2021.
Around half of the material in Sunshine Coast household general waste bins could be diverted from landfill and recycled.
Sunshine Coast Council is therefore looking at how we collect waste from households to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfill and achieve recycling targets outlined in the Queensland Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy.
Your feedback and views on the introduction of a third bin for collection of food organics and garden organics will now be reviewed.
The frequently asked questions explain how a third bin may work for our region.
Overview
To support a thriving community now and into the future it is critical that we manage our energy, waste and natural resources efficiently and sustainably, which is why council is working through actions from our Sunshine Coast Waste Strategy 2015-2025.
These actions require us to explore how waste and resource recovery on the Sunshine Coast will look in the future and we are seeking community input.
Though this survey, we hope to gain ideas and feedback to help guide any future changes in how council collects and processes your waste.
We are exploring options to change the current waste collection system.
Contact
Please contact wastebusiness@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au or council's Waste Engagement Project Officer on (07) 5475 7272 for more information.
