The Central Coast has its first Community Recycling Centre, with householders now able to drop off their problem wastes such as paints, oils, gas bottles, fluoro lights, smoke detectors and batteries for free at the Buttonderry Waste Management Facility in Jilliby, near Wyong.

The Community Recycling Centre was established by Central Coast Council with the support of an Environmental Trust grant of $160,000 and work with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The Centre at Jilliby expands on the popular travelling Chemical Cleanout Events, which are well supported in the region.

Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the Jilliby Centre offered a permanent, free drop-off solution, complementary to existing services, that will make problem waste disposal easier for Central Coast residents.

“Our community is passionate about closing the loop on waste and ensuring its safe and environmentally responsible disposal and this was evident when we consulted on our Waste Resource Management Strategy,” Mr Hart said.

“We are proud that 87% of our community think it is very important to reduce the amount of waste that households generate and dispose, and we are also proud to be able to actively find opportunities that help our community do this. I encourage everyone to make use of this great new facility.”

EPA Director Circular Economy Kathy Giunta said the Central Coast Community Recycling Centre is part of a network of more than 100 facilities established across NSW. “Most of the items accepted at community recycling centres can be reused or recycled. That also helps us save water, energy and other resources. “If any of the problem waste dropped off at a centre can’t be recycled it is properly treated before safe disposal,” Ms Giunta said.

The Central Coast Community Recycling Centre is located at 850 Hue Hue Road at Jilliby and is purpose-built for residential customers only. It is open 7 days a week, 7am to 4pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. The Centre accepts the following problem wastes for free:

• water-based and oil-based paints
• used motor oils and other oils
• lead-acid and hand-held batteries
• gas cylinders and fire extinguishers
• conventional tube and compact fluorescent lamps and
• smoke detectors

For more information visit http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/wastegrants/index.htm