We have a range of initiatives and programs running in the Waste and Resource Recovery area at the Hunter JO and have had some exciting achievements, events, and engagement over the last few months.
Building Waste Management Capacity
In August, we wrapped up our first round of the Certificate III in Waste Management, delivered by Academy Green, with the graduation of a number of council staff members. This course commenced in March of last year, offering subsidised waste training to staff from our Member Councils.
On Wednesday 23 August, we held a graduation ceremony at the Hunter JO, to celebrate the success and accomplishments of ten students:
- Aithyn Grove, Dungog Shire Council
- Christine Nash, Muswellbrook Shire Council
- Daniel Olsen, Dungog Shire Council
- Malachi Poole, Singleton Council
- Mark Rand, Cessnock City Council
- Michael Wales, Maitland City Council
- Mitchell Farley, Muswellbrook Shire Council
- Rodney Perry, Singleton Council
- Shaun Southwick, Maitland City Council
- Zachary Lightfoot, Maitland City Council
Congratulations to all who completed this course!
We will be kicking off the second round of the Certificate III in September with eighteen students from seven of our Member Councils. We have also commenced our first round of Certificate IV in Waste Management, with fifteen students from seven of our Member Councils, with a number of the recent graduates undertaking this course. Both of these courses are being delivered by Academy Green.
If you would like to be involved in any future waste management training opportunities, please contact Susan MacDonald, susanm@hunterjo.com.au
Community Recycling Centres
Throughout July we ran an online survey to evaluate the outcomes of our Community Recycling Centre Communication and Education plan.
Across our ten local government areas, 247 people provided feedback on their understanding of problem household waste and how to use community recycling centres.
50% of respondents said that they had seen or heard advertisements for the local community recycling centre, with the main engagement platforms being radio, local council websites, social media, and council emails and newsletters.
As a result of this material, more people sought information about their local community recycling centre, and 28% of people who saw advertisements said that this led them to use their local community recycling centre. These results will help inform the next phase of community recycling centre promotion.
For more information on Community Recycling Centres, check out the NSW EPA website.
Regional Illegal Dumping Program
In July, we also hosted the inaugural meeting of the Hunter Central Coast Regional Illegal Dumping (RID) program. This event was attended by nine out of the eleven councils in the region and covered:
- Background to the program
- Lessons from Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation
- An EPA perspective
- A workshop to identify priority issues and challenges
It was a great first meeting for the RID program, and further meetings will be held to focus on establishing goals for the first year of the program and developing a strategic action plan.