Waste has been an issue for Lismore City Council for a number of years. It has been one of the reasons council has been in the red for more than a decade.

Council has stated in the past that the Waste & Recovery operations made an annual loss of $4.31 million across three consecutive financial years starting with 2019/20, and the estimated loss for 2023/24 of $6.52 million.

A comprehensive review of council's Waste & Resource Recovery Operations was undertaken followed by council adopting Balanced Model C in December 2023.

Balanced Model C included the outsourcing of kerbside waste collection. Kerbside waste collection will now be delivered in-house due to the $5 million NSW Government grant for nine (9) new modern garbage trucks in 2025.

More good news for Lismore City Council this week when the NSW Government announced a further $6 million in funding will be available for regional councils to help them transform, modernise or close old landfills that no longer accept waste.

Councils can apply for the grants under round five of the Landfill Consolidation and Environmental Improvement Program, which has already awarded $12 million across four previous funding rounds.

Better management of high-risk landfill sites will reduce potential health risks for the community and lower the risk of contamination and illegal dumping incidents.

Financial support is available across three targeted streams:

• Up to $300,000 for consolidating landfills and closing landfills, and building transfer stations
• Up to $250,000 for site upgrades
• Up to $25,000 for professional services such as feasibility studies, closure plans, engineering designs and education courses

Previously, this program has supported the closure of 57 landfills, the environmental improvement of 89 landfillsand the establishment of 37 transfer stations.

Applications to improve landfills in regional levy-paying and non-levy areas are open until 21 March 2025, and a panel of industry experts will assess eligible proposals.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working- together/grants/councils/landfill.

NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said, “This $6 million program will transform waste infrastructure across regional and remote NSW to deliver cleaner, healthiercommunities by reducing impacts like odour, dust, contamination and illegal dumping.

“It empowers local councils to tackle legacy waste issues by closing poorly performing, under-resourced or full landfills and overhauling sites to meet updated environmental standards.

“Under this program, regional councils can connect with specialists in landfill management, helping to extend a facility's lifespan.

“Extending this program for a fifth round means the regions will have the resources they need to manage waste more sustainably, create better local outcomes, and safeguard communities for future generations.”

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said five councils in our Northern Rivers region – Tenterfield Shire, Tweed Shire, Byron Shire, Lismore City and Kyogle are eligible for this transformative grant to either close their landfill, upgrade their operations or plan a more sustainable waste management approach.

“NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe and her team are moving full steam ahead to help local communities create cleaner and greener communities,” Ms Saffin said.

“Reuse and recycle ♻️ will take on a new impetus in the consolidation of the circular economy.”

Lismore City Council did not comment on the funding at the time of writing this story.