As the world transitions to a cleaner, greener future, Townsville City Council is making headway in its goal to transition to a circular economy, while advancing business and moving towards eliminating waste to landfill.
By diverting waste which would ordinarily end up in landfill, Council has made a progressive dent in its ambitious goal, with a current diversion rate of 40.26 per cent and the 2021/22 financial year saw Council divert 79,370 tonnes from landfill.
While these figures include materials from residential, commercial, regulated waste, green waste and construction waste, it also includes almost 300 tonnes of items recovered and sold through tip shops in the region.
Council’s Water and Waste Committee chairperson Cr Russ Cook says the statistics show just how important re-using items is when it comes to sustainability.
“We all know the three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle. Having tip shops throughout the region makes it easier than ever to make sure items are given a long lease of life through reusing them before they’re recycled or sent to landfill,” Cr Cook says.
“In 2022 we had a whopping 298.8 tonnes of material diverted through our tip shops. This is an impressive figure, especially considering these items often don’t weigh much individually.
“Diverting waste from landfill is a strong commitment for the city, as we strive towards our goal of growing a circular economy that advances business and moves towards zero waste.”
Cr Cook says there are some interesting ways locals are upcycling items from the tip shops.
“Locals get creative with items from the tip shops. We’ve heard of ironing boards being used as fish filleting stations and potting tables; satellite dishes turned into bird baths; mobility walkers transformed into gardening tool carts, and bedheads used as trellises,” he says.
“Recently we had a mannequin sold at the Magnetic Island Tip Shop, so it just goes to show that if you’re looking for something unusual, you’ll likely find it at one of our two tip shops.”
He says by 2026, Council wants to divert more than 60 per cent of household waste from ending up in landfill.
“Alongside our Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) trial, Council is committed to diverting materials and resources from landfill, giving products and materials a whole new lease on life as we work towards zero waste,” he says.
For more information about Townsville’s Waste Facilities, visit Council’s website.
Interested in more from Townsville City Council? Read their recent article – Growing Townsville through Smarter Digital Connections