WARC revitalises community landfill sites

West Arnhem Regional Council (WARC) has carried out a number of projects to revitalise the landfill sites in Maningrida, Gunbalanya and Jabiru recently, thanks to assistance from the Northern Territory Environmental Protection Authority (NTEPA).

Having previously won multiple Northern Territory Tidy Towns Awards for Jabiru and Maningrida, WARC has already set a high standard in waste management and continues to make improvements to all West Arnhem community landfill sites while implementing processes that meet the best practice guidelines.

Thanks to the ongoing support from the NTEPA, WARC received funding for multiple small projects that would make the biggest impact to maintain effective management of the sites.

Council was thrilled to receive funding for nine separate projects which will not only improve day-to-day operations, but it will also help to ensure the environmental sustainability of the communities while staying in line with Northern Territory Waste Management and Pollution Control Act.

Council staff have been working hard over the past few months to carry out the projects which included the construction of sorting bays and waste oil storage units, internal fencing and new signage across Gunbalanya, Jabiru and Maningrida.

The new sorting bays will help facilitate the segregation of recyclable materials and will maximise the capacity of the landfill sites and ensure efficient use of landfill space. Waste collected by the rubbish collection service will be sorted at the landfill to remove large bulk wastes, listed wastes and/or recyclables that can be taken out of community to bigger facilities in Darwin that are better equipped to process them.

The new internal fencing at the three sites will help to control movement around the landfills and increases public safety. It will also reduce the dumping areas to minimal but practical sizes, prevent litter from blowing off site and stops wild animals from entering the areas.

The new user-friendly signage now clearly shows designated public access areas, appropriate waste disposal areas and other important information for all landfill users.

Going forward, WARC will continue to improve the landfill sites in the communities and looks forward to working with community members to make the landfill operations a success.