Gympie and Noosa work together on waste

Noosa and Gympie Councils have joined forces to try and find efficiencies in waste management and possible cost-sharing arrangements.

The councils have signed an agreement which focuses on infrastructure, procurement, knowledge sharing, and potential cost-sharing arrangements in future contracts.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said waste management is a costly exercise for all councils.

“It makes economic sense to avoid duplication where we can and look to find better environmental outcomes and efficiencies,” she said.

“I am a staunch supporter of collaborating with our neighbouring councils to share knowledge, and share resources to find benefits for our ratepayers,” Cr Stewart said.

“This agreement provides a framework that can potentially enhance the resource recovery industry across the two councils and maximise environmental, social and economic benefits,” she said.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said the Memorandum of Understanding is a tangible step in being more effective in the service delivery of waste management.

“There are massive synergies in waste for all councils and working together can help Gympie achieve better environmental outcomes and investigate ways to deal with different aspects of waste in a collaborative way,” he said.

The agreement focuses on the key areas of infrastructure, procurement, knowledge sharing, and potential cost-sharing arrangements in future contracts.

Representatives from both councils will meet regularly to discuss infrastructure projects and identify ways to turn waste into a resource and divert away from landfill.