Port residents to have say on future war on waste

Port Stephens Council is asking residents what they think the future should look like as part of its new waste strategy.

What happens to waste after it goes in the bin has been a focus over recent years with the ABC’s War on Waste. Now, Port Stephens Council is asking residents what they think the future should look like as part of its new waste strategy.

Council’s Waste Management Coordinator Chris Cannard says the new Waste Strategy will help plan for how waste will be managed into the future.

“Community awareness about where our waste goes has grown in recent years, thanks in part to programs like the ABC’s War on Waste,” Mr Cannard said.

“The current way we manage waste has been in place since 1999 and it’s now time to plan for the next 20 years.

“Our waste strategy covers how we deal with garbage, recycling, green waste, litter, kerbside collections and drop-off days. It also impacts how we’ll educate our community on what they can do to reduce waste and make sure it goes in the right place,” he said.

“We’re now asking our community to let us know what they value about our current waste collection system and what they would like to see into the future.

“The feedback we receive will help us create a new strategy to tackle the future war on waste — whatever that might look like.

“We’re holding a number of face-to-face sessions, and even a Facebook Live event, to make sure everyone has an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback,” he said.

Port Stephens Council is holding a number of community consultation sessions:

  • Tuesday 17 November — 6:30 to 8:30pm at Sir Francis Drake Hotel, Pacific Highway Heatherbrae
  • Wednesday 18 November — 5:30 to 7:30pm at Club Lemon Tree, Lemon Tree Passage
  • Thursday 19 November — 5:30 to 7:30pm at Nelson Bay Bowling Club
  • Wednesday 25 November — 5:30 to 6:15pm PS Live Waste Strategy event on Facebook.