Council kicks green goals
Published: 17 February 2012
Logan's new two bin system proves its worth
Logan City has reaffirmed its green credentials by recording a raft of environmentally friendly successes as well as planning a series of future eco initiatives.
The rate of recycling across the city has increased by 68 per cent, there is now over 6000 hectares of Logan's land registered for conservation, plans are underway for Logan's first e-waste recycling facility and Council is looking to secure almost $1 million worth of funding to restore habitat corridors.
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson, Councillor Lisa Bradley (Division 1), said she was delighted to see Logan kicking so many green goals and said it further confirmed the city's commitment to being environmentally conscious.
She confirmed the significant increase in recycling throughout Logan was a direct result of the two-bin waste service, which was launched last year.
"Recycling figures per household per week have rocketed from 3.65kg to 6.10kg," Cr Bradley said.
"These are impressive results and show the benefits of the new two-bin waste service. Overall garbage and recycling increased 22 per cent, from 17.71 kg per household per week to 21.52 kg, and recycling contamination decreased by 23 per cent thanks to the additional recycling capacity.
"These results mean Council is on well on track to meet the State Government's target to increase recycling to 50 per cent by 2014. The increase in recycling also helps to extend the life span of our SmartTiPs, which in the long term saves our ratepayers money.'
"It is encouraging to see that so many households are also taking charge by committing their land to conservation. Under the Land For Wildlife Program, there are now 190 properties voluntarily managed compared to 34 properties in 1998 - this equates to 6.5 per cent of the entire city now being managed privately for conservation."
Cr Bradley confirmed Council was also currently developing plans for its transfer stations to cater for the community's e-waste and was applying for funding to help deliver a vital waterway's project.
"We're looking to support the Australian Government's National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme by providing e-waste drop-off points at our existing waste transfer facilities" she said.
"The Scheme itself aims to collect televisions, computers, printers and other computer products such as keyboards, mice and hard drives and we are working towards the goal of having our facility set up by the middle of the year.
"Council is also looking to secure almost $1 million worth of funding from the Australian Government's 2011-2012 Biodiversity Fund to help deliver a much-needed project for our bushland and waterways.
"The project aims to deliver a strategic and prioritised revegetation initiative essential to restore habitat corridor linkages and function and enhance landscape resilience particularly along waterways and we're currently in the process of submitting our application for the $946,000 to deliver the project."
Logan City Council is committed to protecting, managing and enhancing the biodiversity of the region's areas of natural value by delivering a variety of environmental and eco initiatives, projects and events.