WASTE services in Kiama have received a major boost with a $400,000 state government grant to expand the kitchen-to-compost program - Organics Kiama (OK) and to build a new community recycling centre.
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Kiama mayor Brian Petschler joined Member for Kiama Gareth Ward at the Minnamurra Recycling Facility to announce the $409,690 funding, under the New South Wales Government’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative.
Under the initiative, $211,230 will be used to expand the OK trial program to 8550 households, including providing free kitchen caddies and supporting community education.
The program enables residents to dispose of all their kitchen organic waste into the green waste bin which is then converted into compost. The compost is then designed to be used on the area’s parks and sporting fields.
The grant also comprised $198,460 to build a Community Recycling Centre at Minnamurra Recycling Facility to make it easy and convenient for residents to drop off household problem wastes like paint, gas bottles, smoke detectors, oils, batteries and fluorescent globes and tubes for safe disposal and recycling.
“Council is delighted to have been successful in these grants and I thank Mr Ward for his Government’s support,” mayor Brian Petschler said.
“The funds will provide a significant boost to the Council’s long-running strategy to increase recycling and reduce waste going to landfill.
“The expansion of the Organics Kiama program will enable it to be rolled out from the initial trial area to cover the whole municipality, significantly reducing organic material currently going to the landfill.
“The Community Recycling Centre improvements at Minnamurra will mean a much greater range of problem wastes can be received and dealt with appropriately, enhancing our environmental performance and providing the ability to handle and resolve many of these difficult waste issues”, Cr Petschler said.
Mr Ward said he was delighted with the announcement.
“This is fantastic news for the Kiama community and will serve to improve our local waste and recycling services,” he said.
“I commend Kiama Municipal Council on achieving these grants and look forward to seeing these improved waste services up and running.
“The EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More is a five year $465.7 million initiative to transform waste and recycling in this State.
