What is a community recycling centre?
Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) are permanent drop-off centres for common household problem wastes that can’t be collected via council kerbside waste and recycling collection services. Residents can drop off problem wastes at these centres year-round, free of charge.
Why is Council building a CRC?
CRCs are important community assets that Council provides in collaboration with the NSW Environment Protection Authority’s CRC Program, which aims to:
- provide 90 per cent or more of NSW households with access to a service where they can drop off their problem waste free of charge
- raise community awareness by engaging householders in good management of resource recovery and disposal options for their problem wastes
- provide a sustainable solution for the management of household problem waste.
What items are considered household problem waste?
Non-hazardous materials that don’t belong in the general waste bin as they can pollute and create problems if mixed into landfill. Examples include paint, gas bottles, motor oils, other oils, household batteries, smoke detectors, fluoro globes and tubes, car batteries and fire extinguishers.
How much household problem waste will be stored on-site?
The site will operate in accordance with the NSW EPA’s Community Recycling Centre operating guidelines, which restrict the amount of materials that can be stored on-site at any one time.
EPA's contractor, Cleanaway, will visit the site regularly to collect materials to ensure the site is compliant.
Why was this location chosen for the CRC?
The Floraville Road site was selected as the location for the CRC as it is located in the heart of northeastern Lake Macquarie, provides convenient access for residents to dispose of problem waste and meets the NSW Planning and EPA requirements for the operation of a CRC.
What is the construction period and how will the works impact the community?
The CRC and sub-depot upgrade is expected to take 12 months to construct and establish for operation.
Construction commenced in October 2023 and completion expected by May 2025.
There will be some noise and traffic impacts during construction.
No night-time construction work is planned and traffic controllers will be in place when needed to ensure the safety of pedestrians, motorists and workers.
Neighbouring residents may experience minor noise once the centre opens during operating hours but should not experience any meaningful changes to traffic flow.
What is the sub-depot used for?
The depot is used to store plant, machinery and materials for the vegetation and infrastructure maintenance crews responsible for servicing the eastern side of the city.
How much will the project cost and how is it being funded?
The CRC and sub-depot upgrade is expected to cost about $4 million, which includes $1.3 million in grants from the NSW Government.
Where will the CRC be located within the sub-depot and what will the hours of operation be?
The new publicly accessible CRC will occupy about 30 per cent of the overall sub-depot site and will be located on the southeast corner. The CRC hours of operation will be from 8am to 4pm on weekdays and 9am to 2pm on weekends. The CRC will be closed on public holidays.
How will this project improve the site?
The sub-depot upgrade will:
- make better use of the site’s existing footprint
- add a secondary fence and planted hedge along the driveway boundary with neighbouring houses to improve acoustic and visual privacy, and to enhance overall aesthetics for the adjacent homes
- formalise staff parking areas
- reduce dust from the currently unsealed operating and driveway areas
- create safer traffic movements in and out of the site by formalising one-way entry and exit points onto Floraville Road.
The sub-depot will continue to operate as a base for the mowing and road maintenance crews who service the east side of the city.