Rainbow Beach dump ceases landfill… with Tin Can Bay to follow

You may have noticed some recent changes at the Rainbow Beach Waste Management Facility.

Over the next two months, Council will be changing waste management operations at the Rainbow Beach Waste Management Facility. These will involve closure of the landfill and establishment of a transfer station.

Council will cease landfilling activities at the site for a number of reasons.

• Environmental impact – the Rainbow Beach landfill is a rudimentary landfill.  The landfill was not designed to modern day standards and as such did not meet the minimal environmental standards required for landfills.  The landfill is located in the Great Sandy National Park in close proximity to wetlands of international significance.  The base of the landfill is not lined and is located on sand which is highly porous.  Similar landfills are gradually being closed nationwide due to environmental risks and the cost of operation.
• Airspace – the Rainbow Beach landfill has reached end of life.  Council has decided not to develop further airspace or continue landfilling due to associated environmental impact.
• Cost –small country landfills across the region will require significant upgrades and investment in order to comply with modern day environmental requirements.  A decision was made by council to close and remediate outdated landfills, without reducing waste services provided to residents.

The landfill will be replaced within the next two months by a transfer station.  The following waste types will still accepted at the waste management facility – household waste, bulky household items, green waste, scrap metal, tyres, commercial waste, car batteries, waste oil, and LPG bottles.

There will be no reduction in the service level provided at this facility.  Council intends to increase recycling opportunities immediately by providing bins for recycling of cardboard from households.

Similar transfer stations have recently been constructed at Gunalda and Goomeri, and have resulted in a much tidier waste management facility, reduced operating costs and reduced environmental risk.

Household and commercial waste can be placed in the new 3 cubic metre bins at the waste management facility.  The bins will be emptied on a regular basis.  This waste will be transported to, and disposed of, at the Bonnick Road Waste Management Facility in Gympie which is the only engineered and lined landfill in Gympie Region.

The benefit of a bulk bin transfer station is that waste is enclosed in bins, preventing windblown litter, generation of landfill leachate and methane, and food sources for vermin and wild cats and dogs.  In addition, this service is also financially prudent because it eliminates the ongoing cost of machinery required to landfill waste and reduces the ongoing whole-of-life cost of the facility into the future.

The bins are designated for small (householder) quantities of waste only. Please separate any household putrescible waste from other waste (i.e. greenwaste, scrap metal or bulky items) and place it into one of the 3 cubic metre bins for disposal.

Please place clean green waste in the designated green waste stockpile.  This will be mulched for beneficial reuse over the site.

Likewise, please separate scrap steel and bulky household items into the designated stockpiles, as these will be removed from the site and either recycled or landfilled at Bonnick Road Waste Management Facility.

Council anticipates that the transfer station will be supervised by a council staff member or contractor, and council will implement waste disposal charges for businesses using the facility.  Loads of domestic general waste and domestic green waste and hard/bulky waste are free of charge.  For information about other Council’s waste disposal charges, visit Council’s website at www.gympie.qld.gov.au.

Given that the Rainbow Beach landfill is located within the Great Sandy National Park and is close to internationally significant wetlands, Council is committed to rehabilitating this landfill and reducing the environmental impact on the natural environment, as well as other small unlined country landfills.

There will be a community announcements made in the Rainbow Beach Community News and social media to notify residents and businesses of ongoing developments.

Council’s Waste Services Branch would like to speak to any businesses that dispose of (fresh) meat or seafood processing waste or builders waste to assist with alternative arrangements for disposal of these products, as they will not be accepted in bins at the transfer station.

Tin Can Bay Waste Management Facility will remain to be operated as landfill for at least six months. Fees and charges remain the same i.e. domestic general waste and green waste and hard bulky waste are free of charge.

Should you have any inquiries or concerns about the waste management facility, please contact Council’s Waste Services branch on 1300 307 800.