Narromine Shire Council manager of health and building Chris Brook said the new shed, modelled on other waste depots in the region, was designed to encou-

rage recycling as much as possible.

“The shed was built

following on from the

adoption of council’s waste

management strategy and one of the strategies was to encourage separation of waste and recycling to

reduce the amount of waste going to landfill,” he said.

“People have the opportunity to easily dispose of recycling on one side of the shed and whatever waste they have which can’t be recycled goes into the tip trucks on the other side.

“It is also much safer as only council staff have access to the landfill.”

Mr Brook said planning for the new facility began in early 2006, with construction commencing in September last year.

He said it has economic and environmental benefits for both council and the community.

“Council has set fees at each waste depot to encourage people to recycle, where people do the right thing they aren’t charged a fee for domestic waste.”

The centre also includes a waste motor oil collection station, which includes a hydraulic hoist, funded by Department of Environment and Climate Change through NetWaste.

Mr Brook said initiatives like Netwaste allowed facilities which wouldn’t otherwise be possible due to budget constraints.

Jo Gill was the first person through the gates at the new facility in Narromine when it opened last Monday.

She was awarded a compost bin.

“We thought giving out a compost bin would be a good opportunity to promote the new recycling facility and composting is an easy way to recycle at home,” said Mr Brook.