Cessnock Waste Fact File

Solid Waste Generation

Currently there are over 50,000 people in the LGA and HRR services 18,561 homes at June 2009 every fortnight. In 2000/2001, the community disposed of 20,600 tonnes of mixed waste to landfill, and 900 tonnes of building and demolition waste (excluding bricks and concrete as these are now separated and reprocessed). Further, 2,350 tonnes of green waste were reprocessed after being delivered to the depot.

Cessnock Waste and Reuse Centre

The landfill that services the Cessnock Local Government Area is located on Old Maitland Rd, East Cessnock. This area has been the waste disposal site for the Cessnock community since 1979. In order to more accurately reflect the changing nature of the landfill site, the facility is now referred to as The Cessnock Waste and Reuse Centre.

Council is currently investigating alternate sites for the expansion or relocation of the facility.

The waste depot currently has facilities for residents to drop off household recyclable items. Two 302 cubic metre bulk bins are located prior to the weighbridge for household recyclable bottles, containers, paper and cardboard. Other recycling/reuse opportunities include car bodies and other metals, used motor oils, tyres, and concrete. All are stored on site until sufficient quantities are available for reprocessing. The centre also accepts green waste, such as grass clippings, which are composted, and tree prunings, which are chipped and used on Council parks and gardens.

Recycling

Cessnock Council has introduced a number of waste reduction initiatives, which have seen a decline in the amount of waste received at the waste depot. In 1997-1998, waste received at landfill amounted to 27,564 tonnes, compared to 2000/2001 where the quantity received declined to 21,500 tonnes.

One reason for this decline can be attributed to the introduction of the domestic kerbside recycling service since domestic waste contributes significantly to the waste received at landfill. In 1997-1998, 2,903 tonnes of domestic recycling was delivered to the recycling plant at Gateshead. The amount of product recycled each year has also increased over time with residents recycling 3749 tonnes in 2006-07 compared to just 2108 tonnes in the first year of collections.

The amount of product recycled each has also increased progressively with 3,901 tonnes recycled in 2008-2009 compared to just 2,108 tonnes in 1997-1998.

Since 1997 residents have recycled 37,660 tonnes of recyclables. This has resulted in significant environmental benefits such as:

• Enough water has been saved equal to that of 11,340 backyard pools.
• Enough electricity to supply 29,040 homes for an entire year.
• Reduced air pollution equal to removing 4,512 cars from the road permanently.
• Saved 12,262,236 litres of crude oil by recycling plastics. This is enough crude oil to make over 6 million litres of petrol.
• Recycled enough steel to make 667 family sized sedans.

A contractor operated Reuse Centre is also located at the depot, which has a wide range of pre-loved goods for sale.

Domestic Sharps Disposal Program

Council has adopted a program for the disposal and management of domestic sharps. Used syringes can now be deposited at specially designed bins located at Cessnock and Kurri Kurri Hospital. This program has been effective in removing the syringes from the domestic waste and recycling stream.

» Cessnock City Council Recycling Statistics 2008-2009