Central Coast Council is encouraging the community to have their say on waste management practices to help develop the first Waste Management Strategy for the region.

The draft Strategy will reassess current waste initiatives and seek to inspire change to help minimise the amount of waste diverted to landfill and its impact on the environment.

Council Director Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff urged residents to let Council know their trashy ideas and jump online to help shape the future of our waste.

“Waste Management in Australia is constantly evolving and everyone has a role to play in reducing the amount of waste generated and its effects on our community,” Mr Bolgoff said.

“Council cannot do this alone – we need our community to help guide where this Strategy goes and their willingness to come on board with future initiatives will be the key to its success.

“This can be seen through the many innovative free recycling options and education programs we already offer to help reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill, which includes the most recent record-breaking Chemical CleanOut event, as well as our e-waste, battery, light globe and mobile phone recycling programs, to name a few.

“To help residents gain a better understanding of what is already on offer we will have a number of bus tours of our Buttonderry and Woy Woy Waste Management Facilities throughout the consultation period and Pop Up events across the Coast.

“This is your chance to help us shape the way waste and resource recovery is delivered and managed across the Central Coast region – don’t let your say go to waste!”

Council Mayor Jane Smith said the first Community Strategic Plan for the Coast highlighted minimising waste to landfill and climate change and its impacts were key priorities for residents.

“Right now more than half of Central Coast residents’ household waste is sent to landfill,” Mayor Smith said.

“This needs to change and we need innovative solutions and the community on board to better reuse and recycle our waste so it doesn’t end up in landfill.

“We know there are some great ideas out in the community regarding waste minimisation and now is the chance for them to be heard.

“In order to make significant improvements we need to proactively continue to re-evaluate our waste initiatives, with the aim of reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.”

Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com for details on pop-up events, bus tours and to access different opportunities to have your say. The first round of consultation closes Wednesday 5 June, with further consultation opportunities to follow.