EIGHT small tips in the region will be closed and others transformed into recycling centres as part of reforms to improve waste management.

Inverell Shire Council has released a new waste management strategy focusing on sustainability and resource management.

Called 'Less Waste More Resources', the strategy comes after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed council on notice for unacceptable landfill operating practices.

"A great number of rural tips have been inspected by the EPA and have found they have the potential to pollute," Barry Johnston, Inverell mayor, said.

"Quite often contaminated material gets through, that means council is fined if they're found not to be taking protective measures."

During the next four years all 13 rubbish tips in the shire will either be upgraded or closed at a cost of around $800,000. Delungra, Ashford, Bonshaw and Yetman will be converted from landfill to transfer stations while next year eight small rural landfills, including Elsmore, Bukkulla and Gum Flat, will be closed and the land rehabilitated.

"They're reaching capacity," Brett McInnes, director of civil and environmental services, said.

"It's not sustainable to keep trying to maintain them.

"Even if we spent a whole lot of money they won't comply anyway."

The next step is to hold community meetings in a number of rural communities from mid July.

"We'll have consultations in all eight places we're closing," Brett said.

"We've been working on the strategy for 12 months.

"It's something we needed to do, there was an ongoing concern with space and environmental issues.

"We need to think strategically and globally."

Other future plans for waste in the shire include public-space recycling and organic collection.

"30 per cent of waste is organic, we're looking at turning that into green waste," Brett said.

"It's about treating waste as a resource."

To offset the closure of rural landfills the current rubbish collection route will extend into rural areas. A detailed map is included in the strategy.

The strategy is on exhibition for the next six weeks and available from the council chambers or www.inverell.nsw.gov.au.

Member s of the public are encouraged to review the strategy and provide council with any comments they may have.

© 2010 Inverell Times

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