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Last Updated: Thursday, 20 April 2023 16:20

Published: Thursday, 20 April 2023 16:14

Toowoomba resident Carolyn Cloake’s minimal household waste output is an extreme example of a less-is-more approach which Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is keen to see replicated.

TRC Water and Waste Committee portfolio leader Cr Nancy Sommerfield today (April 20) congratulated Mrs Cloake’s tremendous effort to reduce her household waste to one small bag of rubbish each week and recycle other valuable resources.

“Carolyn is showing how easily residents can reduce their own waste streams,” Cr Sommerfield said.

“Carolyn is a shining example of how household behaviour can help Council reduce, reuse and recycle precious resources to divert more material from our landfills.

“Diverting recyclable material from landfill reduces operating costs and promotes further environmental benefits.

“Council is working to transition in line with the state government targets for 90% of our waste being reused and diverted from landfill by 2050.

“Our new waste management facilities are designed to plan for the circular economy approach, with recycling and reuse optimised through the collection and sorting of waste. Custom-designed sheds have been installed in the Resource Recovery Area for customers to separate waste streams, such as household hazardous waste, oil, paint, batteries and gas bottles, in addition to recycling options for items including polystyrene and mattresses at designated centres.

“Residents have helped Council improve the diversion rate of material from landfill by 55% over the past four years with our facilities at the Greater Toowoomba Waste Management Facility and Kleinton now diverting between 60% and 65% of waste received.

“It’s important that residents continue to place items in the correct kerbside bins to avoid contamination and maximise the benefits of recycling.”

Cr Sommerfield said Council was continuing to expand recycling options at the Region’s waste facilities.

Mrs Cloake is an avid environmentalist who has made recycling an artform. To mark World Earth Day (Saturday, April 22), she is encouraging her neighbours at Seachange Lifestyle Resort Toowoomba (part of Ingenia Lifestyle Communities) to get into the spirit.

“Each of us can do fairly simple things to protect our environment and minimise the amount of rubbish we send to landfill,” Mrs Cloake said.

“We can all make small changes like taking a reusable bag when we buy fruit and vegies rather than using a plastic bag, just as we did with groceries.

“Today, people are very quick to throw things out – it is easy and convenient but often it is because they don’t know what else they can do with the things they no longer want.

“Many items can be recycled if you know where to go. Batteries can be dropped off at the supermarket, for example, and Toowoomba Regional Council has excellent recycling facilities that takes larger items like e-waste, metal, cardboard, polystyrene. Old pens, markers and ink cartridges can be dropped into Officeworks for recycling and old sports shoes can go to sports retailers.

“Recycling takes a bit of effort but, as consumers, we need to take responsibility for what we buy and do our bit to reduce our own environmental footprint.”

Mrs Cloake bundles up her unwanted clothes, sheets and towels and posts them to a manufacturer for upcycling where the material is repurposed into upholstery filling, insulation and many other uses.

“If you wouldn’t give it to your best friend, you shouldn’t send it to the op shop. We all like to donate old clothes to charity, but many of the stores are so overloaded that they must dispose of a lot of the unsuitable clothing,” she added.

Kitchen scraps go into the worm farm and compost bin to feed the organic community garden run by a group of Seachange residents.

For details and tips on recycling, visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/recycling

Caption: TRC Water and Waste Committee portfolio leader Cr Nancy Sommerfield (left) with champion recycler, Carolyn Cloake of Seachange Lifestyle Resort Toowoomba.