Central Coast Council are inviting community members to have their say on the first draft Waste Resource Management Strategy, now available online for final public review until 21 June.

Developed after extensive community consultation last year, the draft Strategy assesses current waste initiatives and seeks to encourage change to help minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill and its impact on the environment.

Council Unit Manager Waste Services and Business Development, Andrew Pearce said with the constantly evolving challenges around waste, there has been a massive push both from our community and at a global level to find solutions that close the loop.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to let us know your ideas on waste reduction, which alongside our report information, has helped us formulate our first draft Strategy,” Mr Pearce said.

“This information has underpinned the strategy’s key objectives - to drive waste avoidance, divert waste from landfill by increasing local recycling and reuse options, explore funding and collaborative opportunities over the next 10 years, and keep our streets and public spaces clean and clear.

“We also want to change the view that what is traditionally known as ‘waste’ is actually a valuable resource to be managed.

“As technology is advancing so rapidly in this field, our planning for waste management must consider both well-established principles and emerging trends.”

The vision of this 10-year plan is on promoting our region as a creative environment for developing a local circular economy that values the recovery of resources and advocates prevention of waste.

Council Mayor Lisa Matthews said the Strategy outlines key objectives and actions that will ensure Council provides waste services that are safe, secure and cost-effective.

“Waste is everyone’s issue – we all have a role to play in reducing the amount of waste generated and its impacts on our community and the environment” Mayor Matthews said.

“I encourage everyone to go online and provide feedback on our draft Strategy so we can ensure we deliver the future waste resource recovery outcomes the community want and expect.”

Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/our-coast-our-waste for further information and to have your say.