THE NSW Environment Protection Authority has introduced a new landfill regulation, meaning all vehicles carrying rubbish will need to be weighed before and after entering the Kempsey Waste Management Centre.
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Under the old system a levy was payable only on material that went into the actual landfill.
From August 1, the levy is payable on every bit of waste entering the site, however, a credit is due when material leaves the site for reuse or recycling.
Kempsey Shire Council Infrastructure Services director Robert Scott said the changes will not impact on current council costs, but will result in additional work to weigh everything entering and leaving the centre.
“These regulations are impacting every licensed facility across NSW and not just landfills, but also recycling yards and transfer stations,” Mr Scott said.
“In short it doesn’t really have any impact on where the user places the material, but what it does require is for council to provide the weight of all waste entering the site and leaving the site.
“If we cannot account for all of the waste that is recycled or reused from the site then council may end up paying a higher amount for the levy overall.
“The changes are trying to discourage or prevent operators from allowing waste on to the site and then it not being processed.”
Concerns have been raised in the community regarding longer waiting times and the formation of long queues.
Mr Scott said longer waiting times would be unavoidable as at present, there is only one weighbridge.
“We have changed the location of the traffic lights, provided more line marking and signage to help with this issue in the interim,” he said.
“We will be seeking funding assistance through the levy to provide a second weighbridge on the site which will be in the order of $300,000.”
Mr Scott said no new staff have been added specifically for the new regulations.
“We have advertised for a weighbridge operator and a relief operator but this was not in a response to the new regulations,” he said.
“The positions have originated from an existing vacancy through a review of rostering.
"The vacancy existed for some time and recruitment was already underway before the regulation came into force.
“Until the new staff start onsite we will continue to second other outdoor staff to fill the minimum staff required to operate the landfill.”
