Re-Use Goulburn project approved

Published on 04 August 2020

The upgrade of Goulburn Waste Management Centre, also known as the RUG (Re-Use Goulburn), is an exciting project that will complete the site’s transformation from a traditional landfill to a modern Waste Management Centre.

Development approval for the project has now been gained, after it was ticked off by the Joint Regional Planning Panel recently, and Council will soon release tender documentation for construction of this exciting upgrade.

“It is important that we recycle as much as possible and that our community reduces the amount it disposes of in landfill. The new facilities will be constructed with this as their purpose, while also improving the experience for our customers visiting the waste centre who will be able to dispose of most waste streams in an undercover facility” said Mayor Bob Kirk.

“That the DA went through the JRPP so quickly is testament to the benefits the facility will create for our community and our commitment to sustainability. Goulburn Waste Management Centre has undergone significant improvements over recent years with the introduction of Recycling Assistants that help customers separate and dispose of their waste in the appropriate locations. The new centre will take this to a new level and provide greatly enhanced facilities for recycling, waste disposal and education”.

The upgrade will include a Re-Use Hub or tip shop located prior to entering the main waste disposal area. This will enable people to dispose of reusable items conveniently when they are on their way to the waste centre. Items will then be repaired if required and on-sold. Items such as furniture and building products are expected to be popular. Based on feedback from other Council areas, these facilities generally run at around a break-even point, meaning the expenses of operating the shops is roughly offset by the income received. The biggest impact is in reducing waste to landfill and ensuring items are reused when possible.

The second component of the upgrade is a new recycling shed located near the current waste drop off bays. This will be an undercover, one-stop-shop for waste disposal with a Community Recycling Centre for hazardous wastes, drop off areas for recyclables such as mattresses, polystyrene and cardboard, plus facilities to allow the weighed disposal of items such as organic waste, co-mingled recycling and landfill waste. This will enable mixed loads to be separated at the point of disposal so that rather than having trailer load charges, we will be able to charge recyclables for example at a cheaper rate than waste disposed of in landfill. There will also be an education centre and second weighbridge so we will no longer need to have vehicles accessing the weighbridge in both directions.

The Community Recycling Centre component of the upgrade is supported by the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.