In a move to delight environmentally-conscious Lake Macquarie residents, the Belmont North Community Recycling Centre (CRC) opened this week.
The new premises at Floraville Road will accept paints, oils, gas bottles, fluoro lights, smoke detectors, batteries and other household waste items free of charge.
It’s the city’s second CRC, which complements the Awaba Waste Management Facility on the western side of the lake.
That’s proved a key cog in the region’s circular economy since April 2104.
“Another site will make recycling problem waste more accessible and convenient for locals throughout the LGA,” Lake Macquarie City mayor Adam Shultz said.
“Last year we diverted about 250 tonnes from landfill through the Awaba CRC and had more than 13,000 visitors come through and drop items off.
“We hope to see similar results at our new facility as we make it easier for people to do the right thing.”
The project received $1.3 million in joint funding from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
“The upgraded and accessible facility will empower the local community to reduce their waste, recycle and go a long way in protecting the environment,” Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said.
NSW EPA executive director of programs and Innovation Alexandra Geddes also emphasised the urgent need for effective local waste solutions.
“As we transition to a circular economy and tackle the landfill crisis, facilities like the Belmont North CRC provide communities a free, easy and safe way to keep harmful materials from landfill, while championing reuse and sustainability,” she said.
Swansea MP Yasmin Catley claimed it was a milestone for the region.
“This is about more than just recycling,” she said.
“It’s about pride in our town and doing right by the planet.
“Swansea locals care and now they’ve got a dedicated space to turn that care into action.”
In the past year, council recovered about 89 tonnes of paint, 75 tonnes of electronic waste, 36 tonnes of car batteries, 31 tonnes of motor oil and 25 tonnes of gas cylinders at the centre.
The Awaba CRC also recycled eight tonnes of expanded polystyrene – which would fill up 1,400 standard wheelie bins – and 150 tonnes of cardboard, the equivalent of about 100 standard passenger cars.
Operating hours for the Belmont North CRC are 8am to 4pm (Monday to Friday) and 9am to 2pm on weekends.
It will be closed on public holidays.
For more news stories:
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- Council kick-starts $750,000 playground upgrades
- UoN’s $87m City Campus Student Accommodation project approved
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