The City of Gold Coast is drafting a Solid Waste Strategy to respond to the City's needs over the next nine years and outline potential ways to encourage sustainable cost-effective waste practices.

1. What is solid waste?
This is the unwanted solid material that
usually ends up in a bin. Otherwise called
rubbish, refuse, garbage or trash, it
includes litter, illegally dumped waste and
recyclables. It doesn’t include wastewaters,
sewage or other liquid wastes.
Draft Solid
Waste Strategy
2014 – 2023
A new solid waste strategy will outline the extent
of the waste management challenge in the next
nine years and how we intend to meet it.
A more detailed list of key actions will define
the City’s strategic program. Currently 19 key
actions are proposed (see overleaf). Progress
on these actions will be measured via interim
targets during the nine year term of the strategy.
To achieve these outcomes, we propose to focus on:
• Diverting identified priority wastes from landfill, especially
organic waste (55 per cent of total landfilled in 2013-14).
Organic waste includes garden waste, food waste, timber,
cardboard and paper
• Providing more recycling options in public places, for
medium to high density housing, business premises and at
major events
• Planning ahead to acquire land, gain approvals and build
viable waste and recycling infrastructure that will meet
future demands
• Implementing best practice collection services and waste
facilities that are cost effective and environmentally aware
• Actively involving the community and
City staff in practical recycling and waste reduction programs
Our four proposed outcomes in 2023 are:
• Waste avoidance, reuse, recycling and recovery
opportunities are maximised prior to landfill disposal
• Our capacity to manage future waste is secured
• Solid waste management has minimal impact on our
environment and public health
• The City and the community are actively engaged in positive
waste behaviours
The City of Gold Coast Solid Waste Strategy
2014-2023 is under development and we want
you to have your say.
The City of Gold Coast is the second largest
local government area in Australia and the
sixth largest city by population. By 2023,
we expect to have grown to about 669,000
residents. That’s more than 60,000 extra
homes nine years from now. Add in the 11
million visitors to our city every year and that’s
a lot of waste to manage!
Managing our resources for a
sustainable future
Have your say!
For more information about the
proposed strategy, please go to
gchaveyoursay.com.au/
waste2023

2. 2
H91409-2558
1
Waste avoidance, reuse, recycling and resource recovery opportunities are maximised
prior to landfill disposal
1.1 Investigate the expansion of the green waste collection service to include food waste ongoing
1.2 Establish or expand waste diversion programs for priority wastes 2014-2023
1.3 Investigate fair and equitable pricing to encourage better resource recovery outcomes 2016-2018
1.4 Provide best practice waste management facilities ongoing
1.5 Improve capacity for recycling in units and high rise apartments 2014-2016
1.6 Establish recycling in public places 2015-2018
1.7
Establish recycling and waste reduction programs for the GC2018 Commonwealth Games
and other major events
2016-2018
1.8 Establish services and resources for businesses to minimise waste to landfill 2015-2019
1.9
Research and support potential markets for recovered resources through alliances with industry
and business
ongoing
2 Our capacity to manage future waste is secured
2.1
Develop a plan for long-term waste treatment options including assessing the feasibility of
advanced waste treatment options
2015-2016
2.2
Forward plan and deliver necessary infrastructure, acquire land and regulatory approvals to
ensure facilities are capable of meeting future waste management demands
ongoing
2.3
Investigate regional collaboration options with industry and government to ensure efficient use of
resources
ongoing
3 Solid waste management has minimal impact on our environment and public health
3.1 Implement best practice landfill gas capture systems at landfill sites ongoing
3.2 Implement best practice leachate management at landfill sites ongoing
3.3
Expand hazardous waste diversion programs for electronic waste, batteries, agricultural
chemicals, mercury containing lamps and other hazardous waste
ongoing
3.4 Implement best practice collection services ongoing
4 The City and the community are engaged in positive waste behaviours
4.1
Develop and implement a communication action plan to engage the community and schools on
waste matters
2015-2023
4.2 Introduce waste reduction and diversion programs for all City staff and operations 2017-2021
4.3 Develop and implement a litter and illegal dumping reduction plan 2015-2018
Please complete the online survey by visiting:
gchaveyoursay.com.au/waste2023
Overview of proposed key actions
For more information
P 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326)
E wastemanagement@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
W cityofgoldcoast.com.au/wastestrategy