Rates, Roads and Rubbish - Councils' Core Business

Rubbish was on the Inner West Council Agenda on 13 December 2022 (carried over from the previous week) on the same day that the National Waste Report was released.

 

The National Waste Report provides an analysis of waste management in Australia....https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2022/12/national-waste-report-2022.html

 

Local Government collected waste from the Kerbside (paid for by Domestic Waste Levy on Rates Notice) and managed Street Litter Bins, Street Sweeping, Litter and Dumping Cleanups, Drop-Off. With some Rural councils owning Landfill sites.

"Externally restricted cash and investments are
restricted in their use by externally imposed
requirements. The increase in external restrictions is primarily attributable to an increase in developer contributions, specific purpose grants and special rate variation income, offset by a reduction in domestic waste management." - Council Accounting policy

Waste is made up of resources from Compostable Organic Material to Toxic Valuable Metals. The waste mantra has been Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and then put it into Landfill or burn it in an Incinerator.  

 

In October 13, 2020 council resolved No to Incineration of Inner West Waste https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2020/10/no-to-incineration-of-inner-west-waste.html13 JULY 2022: END OF THE ROAD FOR SUEZ’S INCINERATOR https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2022/07/coungrats-no-more-incinerators.html

 

However an Incinerator has been proposed for Taralgo: "CATTI is a community-led organisation opposing Veolia's proposal to build a waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerator near Tarago, in the NSW Southern Tablelands.

CATTI stands for preserving the clean environment of Tarago and the Southern Tablelands and managing waste in a more sustainable manner through reuse, genuine recycling and transition to a truly circular economy." viewed 9am 19/12/2022 https://www.notaragoincinerator.com/

The RED Cycle Scandal on stockpiling soft plastics broke during Recycle Week on the eve of international negotiations on Plastic Waste - Inner West Council was caught up through our contrac with RecycleSmart who was sending soft plastics to REDCYCLE - all websites have since been updated. https://perambuler.ramin.com.au/2022/12/clarity-in-labelling-packaging-and-on.html

Mar 11, 2022: "$45 million plant – developed as a major partnership with Pact Group, Cleanaway Waste Management, Asahi and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners – is set to expand Australia’s stocks of locally sourced and recycled polyethylene terephthalate plastics to 50,000 tonnes." https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/drinks-giants-team-up-for-major-recycling-boost-20220310-p5a3f8

 

So, the challenge is to separate the waste into valuable streams which can be used as fertilizer, does not contaminate the soil with heavy metals but realises the value of the metals. December 16, 2022: "Despite government delays, food waste recycling bins are coming to your kitchen sooner than you think" https://theconversation.com/despite-government-delays-food-waste-recycling-bins-are-coming-to-your-kitchen-sooner-than-you-think-195734

 

The CDS return and earn pays consumers 10c a container to help separate waste and therefore produce high quality recyclable materials. These materials are fed into plants like the one at Albury and made into new bottles and caps. Voila the Circular Economy. More at https://returnandearn.org.au/

One Day there will be no kerbside collection...

So, the key is labelling or maybe a barcode reader which tells you where to put your packaging or better still take it back to your source! 

 

Minutes of Extraordinary Council Meeting held remotely and livestreamed on Council’s website on 13 December 2022 Meeting commenced at 6.01PM

 C1222(3) Item 1      Annual Report 2021/22 (Including Audited Financial Statements)

Motion: (Drury/Scott) That Council:


1.    Receive and note the Annual Report 2021/22 including Audited Financial Statements; and

2.    Note the revised Annual Report incorporating new pages 34,35,36 and 39 and the audited financial reports.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stephens and Tsardoulias

Against Motion:          Cr Stamolis

Amendment (Stamolis/Atkins)

That Council: 

1.    Note that North Sydney Council has made a public release about delays in the production and approval of its financial statements;

2.    Prepare a public release stating that Council’s Financial Statements were delayed this year and explaining the reasons for the delay; 

3.    In the public release note that an extension to the 5 month timeframe for the financial statements was provided by the Office of Local Government; and

4.    Provide a briefing note to Councillors explaining the usual steps/timeline for production, exhibition, approval and dissemination of Council’s Annual Report (which includes audited Financial Statements).

Motion Lost

For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Da Cruz, Griffiths, Langford, Lockie, Shetty and Stamolis

Against Motion:          Crs Byrne, D'Arienzo, Drury, Howard, Scott, Smith, Stephens and Tsardoulias
Meeting closed at 6.18pm.

Viewed 8.25am 19/12/2022 https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2022/12/C_13122022_MIN_4001_EXTRA_WEB.htm

Draft Minutes of Extraordinary Council Meeting held remotely and livestreamed on Council’s website on 13 December 2022 Meeting commenced at 6.31PM

Procedural Motion (Drury/Scott) That Council enter into Confidential session.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias

Against Motion:          Nil

Confidential Session

That in accordance with Section 10A(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, the following matters be considered in Closed Session of Council for the reasons provided:

C1222(2) Item 31 Update on Acquisition of Investment Properties (Section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business and (Section 10A(2)(d)(ii) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.

C1222(2) Item 32 Summer Hill Reuse Centre – Update (Section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business.

C1222(2) Item 33 Potential Expansion of In- House Resource Recovery Collection Services (Section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business and (Section 10A(2)(d)(ii) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.

C1222(2) Item 34 Food and Garden Organics - Earlier Commencement Date (Section 10A(2)(d)(ii) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.

Procedural Motion (Howard/Scott)

That Council move back into the Open Session of the Council Meeting.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias

Against Motion:          Nil

 resolutions passed during closed session

C1222(2) Item 31         Update on Acquisition of Investment Properties

Motion: (Drury/Scott) That Council receive and note the report. Motion Carried For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias Against Motion:          Nil

C1222(2) Item 32         Summer Hill Reuse Centre - Update

Motion: (Byrne/Scott) That Council defer this item to the February 2023 Ordinary Council meeting. Motion Carried For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias Against Motion:          Nil Amendment (Da Cruz) That Council: 1.    Approves further discussions with other interested parties who did not provide a submission to the EOI, and have subsequently contacted Council, to occupy any remaining space for the purpose of repair, reuse and recycling; 2.    Investigate providing an E-Waste collection point - this may be through the Bower or Village Project; 3.    Note the significant contribution of centres such as at Summer Hill to the Circular Economy and that we write to the federal and state Environment Ministers inviting them to share the cost to council on a 33/33/33 on an ongoing basis; and 4.    Develop research partnerships including with the Product Stewardship Centre of Excellence at UTS. This motion lapsed for want of seconder.

Procedural Motion (Scott/Howard) That the meeting be extended until 11.10 minutes.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias

Against Motion:          Nil

C1222(2) Item 33         Potential Expansion of In- House Resource Recovery Collection              Services

Motion: (Howard/Scott) That Council:   1.    Support tendering for a single collection contract across the Local Government Area commencing 3 April 2024 as per the following nominated contract collection services for each area: a)    North Service Area (Leichhardt) – Recycling; b)    West Service Area (Ashfield) - Garbage, Recycling, Green Waste; and c)    South Service Area (Marrickville) - Recycling 2.    Endorse the extension of the existing Cleanaway collection contract for the West Service Area from 16 December 2023 to 31 March 2024, through an existing option in the contract; 3.    Resolves pursuant to section 55(3)(i) of the Local Government Act 1993 to: a)    extend the United Resource Management (URM) Contract for the North Service Area  from 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024; and b)    run a select Request for Tender (RFT) with Council’s existing recycling collection contractors URM and Cleanaway for the South Service Area from 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024, without the calling of open tenders as it considers that a satisfactory result              would not be achieved by calling open tenders because of extenuating             circumstances as follows:               i.        the cost and uncertainly of running two RFT’s for 9 month contract periods is contrary to usual practice for waste collection contracts;             ii.        URM and Cleanaway have previously won competitive tender processes and have been undertaking waste collection services for council since 1 July 2016 and 16 December 2018 respectively; and            iii.        desire to run a tender for a single waste collection contract (for nominated waste and recycling collection services) across the Local Government Area commencing 3 April 2024. Motion Carried For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias Against Motion:          Nil Amendment (Da Cruz) That Council develop bin identification and communication including the App and Online which aligns with Disposal, Australian Package Labelling Standards and this be consistent across our kerbside, street, parks, community centres, libraries, swimming pools, internally including events and service centre waste collection. This amendment lapsed for want of seconder.

Procedural Motion (Scott/Atkins) That the meeting be extended until 11.15pm.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias

Against Motion:          Nil

Procedural Motion (Byrne/Lockie)

That the meeting be extended until 11.20pm.

Motion Carried

For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias

Against Motion:          Nil

C1222(2) Item 34         Food and Garden Organics - Earlier Commencement Date

Motion: (Howard/Scott)  That Council: 1.    Delegate the General Manager authority to enter into the Deed of Variation to Inner West Council’s current contract with Veolia, and any minor amendments to that Deed, to ensure the commencement of Council’s Food and Garden Organics service in 2023; and 2.    Be advised on the execution of deed and the matter be reported back to the next available Council meeting.  Motion Carried For Motion:                 Crs Atkins, Byrne, Da Cruz, D'Arienzo, Drury, Griffiths, Howard, Langford, Lockie, Scott, Shetty, Smith, Stamolis, Stephens and Tsardoulias Against Motion:          Nil Amendment (Da Cruz) 1.       That Council:  1.    Write to the relevant State and Federal Ministers to look at the issue of diverting Fibre-based materials, such as bamboo, timber or cardboard packaging and cutlery, paper towels and serviettes as well as Compostable or biodegradable plastic products or bags from the landfill and composting streams. Noting that businesses are switching to these products under NSW State Regulation; and 2.    Inform the community through our newsletter of the issue of disposal of these items and encourage the use of reusable cuttlery, crockery and glassware. The Mayor ruled this amendment out of order as it does not relate to the motion.

Meeting closed at 11.16pm.

Minutes Viewed 8.10am 19/12/2022 https://innerwest.infocouncil.biz/Open/2022/12/C_13122022_MIN_4000_EXTRA_WEB.htm