The City has supported local community clean-up events for close to 20 years. Image credit Coastal Waste Warriors.
The City of Mandurah’s first Waste Education Plan has been set into motion, outlining how the City will work alongside the community to achieve a number of waste targets for a more sustainable future.
Mandurah Council last week adopted the Plan, which brings together new and existing actions, programs and initiatives to be carried out hand in hand with the community and partners.
The Waste Education Plan identifies priorities for local waste education and engagement, and guides how the City will engage with the community and staff on these priorities to support positive behaviour change.
Mayor Rhys Williams said the new Plan is the perfect starting point for a long-term waste education journey.
“Our community tells us loud and clear that the environment is one of their top priorities – we are built in nature, surrounded by waterways – so we’re dedicated to providing environmental leadership,” Mayor Williams said. “We’re proud to say the City of Mandurah is a leader in this space, having already rolled out and supported a number of highly successful community programs and initiatives that have made a difference in protecting our environment.
“This includes efforts in reducing single use plastics, sustainable veggie workshops, working with our Waste Alliance partner Cleanaway on community education programs, and supporting local clean-up events for close to 20 years.
“Also, in striving for zero landfill, Mandurah became one of the first councils to commit its residual household waste to the new Waste to Energy plant being built in Kwinana.
“There is so much we’re doing already, but we want to do even more. With this new Plan, we’ll be focusing on five key areas to educate, encourage and empower people to reduce their environmental footprint to create a more sustainable future. Everyone has a part to play, so I’d encourage people to get involved and see what steps they can take to reduce the impacts of waste on our environment.”
The Waste Education Plan was developed as an action of the City’s Strategic Waste Plan 2020-2025, which helps the City to achieve the WA State Government’s waste targets and protect the environment by becoming a more sustainable, low-waste City.
In line with the government targets, the City has set a number of its own goals to be achieved over the next seven years, working towards zero landfill to reduce the city’s environmental footprint and protect the environment from the impacts of waste and litter.
Under the themes ‘avoid, recover and protect’, the City’s targets include reducing waste generation to no more than 600kgs per person, per year; increasing resource recovery by 43 percent; and moving towards zero illegal dumping and littering by 2030.
The City will soon roll out new recycling hubs at a number of City-owned facilities to make it easier for the community to recycle different types of waste, including old batteries, coffee pods and mobile phones. The hubs will be located at the Administration building (Peel Street), Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre, and libraries.
