Waste Updates — March 2024

Facility Maintenance and Operations:

During March, our team has been busy maintaining and operating our waste facilities. We've been handling everything from moving waste and recyclables to managing the active tipping areas. Efforts were particularly directed towards the maintenance of our transfer station skip bins, which underwent thorough cleaning, sandblasting, and repainting. While most skip bins have been refurbished successfully, one awaits completion as it required additional structural repairs. We want to remind businesses that it's important to use the Whitemark Waste Facility whenever possible. This helps make sure there's enough space for residents to dispose of their household waste at the Lady Barron Waste Transfer Station.

Recycling Efforts:

March also marked a period of focus on recycling initiatives. We are proud to report progress in recycling aluminium, lead-acid batteries, cooking oil, and products collected through the Recycling Hub. In total, a remarkable 4,400 kilograms of recyclable materials were shipped off the island for recovery. These efforts showcase our commitment to promoting sustainable waste management practices and reducing our environmental footprint.

Administration:

In addition to our operational activities, March saw comprehensive explorations into management options for waste motor oil storage and transportation, refrigerant reclamation, and recycling solutions for our mixed hard waste stockpile. These investigations are ongoing as we strive to identify and implement effective solutions for managing our waste streams and stockpiles responsibly. Furthermore, our team diligently prepared two submissions for the High Priority Infrastructure Grant, focusing on upgrading motor oil collection points and procuring a vertical baler for bulk bag processing. Additionally, March's waste data was collated, interrogated, and reported to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE). These reporting efforts play a crucial role in informing decision-making processes and resource allocation, ensuring that our waste management practices remain transparent, efficient, and environmentally sound.

Waste Updates — January 2024

As we kick off the new year, our waste management team has been hard at work maintaining our facilities, sorting recyclables, and preparing aluminium bales and lead acid batteries for transport off-island. Behind the scenes, our team has been diligently fulfilling our waste data reporting obligations and reviewing community feedback from the proposed waste strategy. Additionally, we've been actively seeking out solutions for managing hazardous wastes to ensure compliance with regulations and promote environmental sustainability. Inspections of our facilities have provided valuable insights into areas where we can enhance our practices. We've identified gaps in our current processes and are working to address these challenges.

Appropriate disposal of hazardous waste materials is a priority for us. While we work on enhancing the current infrastructure and signage, please take note of the following information:

Hazardous Waste Disposal

Hazardous materials require special handling and disposal procedures to ensure the safety of our community and environment. The following materials may be disposed of at Whitemark Waste Facility, but please note that there are restrictions and specific disposal requirements. Please reach out to our waste management team for more details.
• Agricultural & veterinary chemical drums — empty & triple rinsed.
• Asbestos containing materials — by prior arrangement only.
• Clinical waste — by prior arrangement only.
• Cooking oil — within sealed containers.
• Expired marine flares.
• Fire extinguishers.
• Fluorescent tubes.
• Gas bottles — empty
• Household batteries (AA, AAA, button, 9v, etc) — both terminals taped.
• Lead acid batteries.
• Motor oil & oil filters — within sealed containers.
• Tyres — de-rimmed.

It is important to remember that these materials must never be disposed of in general or hard waste bins, stockpiles, or within the landfill. Failure to adhere to these disposal guidelines may pose risks to public health and the environment.

If you have hazardous materials that need to be disposed of, please reach out to our waste management team for advice and guidance on appropriate disposal methods.

Lady Barron Waste Transfer Station

This facility underwent a makeover, with resurfacing, gravel addition and the removal of stockpiled green waste, to improve traffic flow and operational activities. While we continue to enhance this facility, please note that currently only the following streams are accepted:
• General Waste
• Cardboard (flattened, please!)
• Glass
• Aluminium cans
• Scrap metal
• Green Waste

Disposal of motor oil and lead acid batteries is suspended until containment areas are implemented. Please note that mixed builders’ waste, white goods, tyres, and cooking oil are no longer accepted at this facility. However, these items can be disposed of at the Whitemark Waste Facility during its opening times:

Mon, Fri & Sun: 13:30–16:30
Tue & Thu: 07:00–10:00
Wed: 08:30–11:30