Waste Management

Regional Waste Management

The aim of the Regional Waste Management program is to achieve industry best practice in waste management through the Limestone Coast region. This involves the sharing of resources, and looking for opportunities for more efficient waste management practices and facilities. The program will also have an important community education role in the areas of reducing waste, and increasing recycling.

Projects / Initiatives

The percentage of waste sent to landfill decreased from 93% to 59% due to various projects undertaken by Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA) and the Constituent Councils.

LCLGA Waste Management Committee - Terms of Reference

Limestone Coast Regional Waste Management Strategic Direction 2018-2023

Limestone Coast Region Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan

More information on LCLGA Committees and Working Groups Here

Waste Less, Divert More

‘Waste Less, Divert More’ is adopted from the ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ campaign which originates from the UK and currently runs in NSW and VIC. The project aims to reduce food waste disposed in the general waste bin through raising awareness of households. A short TV commercial illustrates the amount of food wasted in an average household, impacts of food waste on resources and environments, tips to avoid food waste and ways to recycle food scraps.

Petruscible waste in the Limestone Coast has to be transported over 100km in some parts of the region. If food waste is decreased by at least 10%, this would lead to about 450 tonnes of food waste being diverted from landfill, a decrease in greenhouse gasses emission, and savings for Councils.

Waste Less Divert More TV Commercial

Bin Tagging Trial

Naracoorte Lucindale Council, The District Council of Robe, The City of Mount Gambier and Tatiara District Council, with the support of Zero Waste SA and LCLGA, trialled the Recycle Right® Bin Tagging program from November 2014 to May 2015 with 660 households.

The trial was successful in reducing both the number of recycling bins presented with contamination and in reducing the number of waste bins presented with recyclables.

On first inspection the average number of contaminated recycling bins across the region was 55%, which decreased to 29% by the end of the trial: a reduction in contamination of 47% across three collections. For the general waste bins, the average number of waste bins with recyclables on the first inspection was 56%, which decreased to 20% by the end of the trial: a reduction in contamination of 64% across three collections.

The top five contaminants placed in recycling bins at the beginning of the trial in order of prevalence were containers and bottles with lids on, dirty soft plastics, polystyrene, food and organic material, and recyclables placed in plastic bags. At the end of the trial, the incidence of lids being left on bottles and containers had reduced by 52%. However, contaminants that still required education in the community included lids left on containers and bottles, recyclables placed in plastic bags, polystyrene and food and organic material.

Public Place Recycling

LCLGA was partnered with Zero Waste SA and the Australian Packaging Covenant in a project to promote recycling in town squares and other high-use public places.

Under this proactive project, six Councils installed 30 new dual recycling bins in public places across the region, to encourage local residents and tourists to “get with the program” of separating our waste streams.

Councils took a leading role in diverting waste from landfill through the public place recycling program. The program diverted approximately 45% of recyclable material from landfill within the public place areas where these bins are placed.

Local Schools Wiping Out Waste

Local Schools across the Limestone Coast participated in the Wipe Out Waste (WOW) program delivered by KESAB Environmental Solutions, funded by Zero Waste SA and supported by the Natural Resources South East and LCLGA. The WOW program is a whole school community approach to waste management and learning. This integrated and interactive education program for schools aims to:

  • Improve systems to reduce waste and recover resources in schools.
  • Monitor progress and continually improve resource recovery (waste) outcomes in the schools.
  • Encourage and influence people to adopt more sustainable behaviour.

Over 1,250 students in the region attended entertaining and interactive 40 minute performances, which covered reducing food packaging in schools and preschools, recycling systems, and use of two and three bin systems. The audience was preschool, Year 4 students, school staff and parents.

A special mention to St Anthony’s Catholic primary School in Millicent which was awarded a prize by KESAB for Best practice waste avoidance. KESAB found the smallest amount of food and drink packaging ever seen in an audit. It squashed into one small ziplock bag- that's for 240 people... which shows that long term behaviour change is possible with whole school community commitment. St Anthony's embrace Education for Sustainability and have been working to be wrapper free for 8 years.

Garage Sale Trail

Garage Sale Trail is a national program encouraging material reuse by hosting a garage sale on 1 designated day across the nation. 2014 was the first year Garage Sale Trail entered South Australia. 11 South Australian based Councils joined and of these 3 came from the Limestone Coast Region. The 3 Councils which participated are Naracoorte Lucindale Council, Wattle Range Council and City of Mount Gambier. The same Councils participated in 2015. Approximately $9,900 was raised in 2014 and almost $12,700 was realised from the Garage Sale Trails in 2015.

By taking part in the Garage Sale Trail, residents are not only generating income, but are helping to reduce the amount of reusable materials put out for council collection or disposed of at council drop off centres. This in turn reduces the amount of waste the community is sending to landfill and that's a great thing for our environment.

Frequently asked questions

What waste goes where? Please check your Council’s website to find out what waste goes where.