UPCOMING changes to the way waste is handled in a number of Upper Hunter towns will result in more recycling, less waste in landfills, cost savings, and a safer, more pleasant environment for staff and customers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Upper Hunter Shire Council is constructing new $260,000 waste transfer stations at Merriwa and Murrurundi.
It will also partially close the landfills.
The projects have received financial assistance from the NSW Government's Environmental Trust through the Waste Less Recycle More initiative's Landfill Consolidation and Environmental Improvements Grants Program.
The maximum grant amount of $200,000 was obtained for each site, with council contributing the balance for the project.
When complete, the transfer stations will enable better collection and sorting of recyclables for further processing off-site, reducing the amount of residual waste which will then be transferred to Scone for landfilling.
Plans for the sites include dedicated spaces and containers for receiving materials, upgrades to staff facilities, sealing of landfill sites to reduce dust and improve surface water management and undercover 'Re-use Shops' at the Merriwa and Murrurundi facilities, as there is at the Scone Waste Facility.
Changing these two sites into transfer stations is also expected to create cost savings.
Council's manager of sustainability and environment Melinda Hale said both the Merriwa and Murrurundi Waste Management Facilities were about 60 years old and in need of work to meet Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) regulations.
"As landfills they are reaching capacity and we need a better way of reducing waste and increasing recycling," she explained.
"The new facilities will have less environmental impact on the site and surrounding areas and will also enable council to plan for future remediation and ongoing monitoring of the landfilled areas."
The transfer stations will be designed in consultation with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
During construction there may be some changes to site opening hours.
The transfer stations are expected to be completed by 2021.