Innovative new technology introduced at Lithgow Solid Waste Facility

Lithgow Council recently introduced an innovative new system for covering waste at Lithgow Solid Waste Facility.

The system, known as the Jaylon Tarp Deployment System, uses large special purpose tarpaulins to cover landfilled waste at the end of each day.

“Lithgow City Council is constantly looking for innovative and cost saving solutions for our operations,” said Lithgow Council Mayor, Councillor Maree Statham. “The new Tarp Deployment System at Lithgow landfill is an excellent example of innovation that will deliver significant savings in Council operations whilst improving performance of the landfill”.

These tarpaulin covers replace the previous system of using soil each day to cover waste. Covering waste at the end of each day is necessary to minimise odour, litter and water infiltration. When using soil, much of the soil remains within the waste

Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Bin

Lithgow City Council has commenced community consultation on the introduction of a new ‘green bin’. The green bin is a new kerbside wheelie bin, with a green lid, for the collection of household food organics and garden organics waste.

This green bin is known as a ‘FOGO’ bin. ‘FOGO’ stands for ‘food organics and garden organics’.

The FOGO bin will take the waste organic material from households such as food scraps, garden cuttings, grass clippings and prunings. This organic material will be converted to compost and recycled, for use in agriculture and landscaping, instead of being sent to landfill.

Removing organic waste from landfill helps save landfill space. Keeping organic waste out of landfill also helps to reduce emissions of methane which, as a greenhouse gas, is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The compost and soil conditioner produced by recycling organic material also helps to improve soil, making it a valuable resource for use on farms, sports fields and gardens.

Residents of the Lithgow LGA are invited to read the FOGO Proposal and complete a survey to take part in the conversation on this proposed FOGO service.

Lithgow City Council’s Mayor Maree Stratham said, “This proposal for a new green bin, to collect food organics and garden organics, is an exciting opportunity for improved waste management in the Lithgow LGA. The proposed FOGO service will increase service levels for our community and offer considerable environmental benefits. I encourage everyone to get involved in the consultation process.” thereby consuming landfill volume and requiring a constant source of suitable soil. The advantage of the new system is that the covers can be easily removed at the start of each day prior to commencement of landfilling.

The community consultation process will run from Monday, 20 February to Monday, 20 March 2023. Residents are encouraged to read the FOGO Proposal for more information about the proposed service and they are invited to complete the FOGO survey to make submissions.

The Council’s purchase of the Tarp Deployment System was fully funded under the EPA Bushfire Recovery Program for Council Landfills. The Council acknowledged the support of the NSW Environment Protection Authority in providing the funding following the 2019/2020 bushfires.

It is estimated the new system will save 12,000m3 each year in soil thereby preserving this volume of landfill space for waste placement. Further, if the Council had to purchase and transport soil to use as cover material from a quarry it would cost in the order of $250,000 each year.

The FOGO Proposal and FOGO Survey are available online through Council’s website. Copies of the FOGO Proposal and FOGO Survey are also available at Council’s Administration Building and at Council’s library branches at Lithgow, Portland and Wallerawang.

The FOGO survey must be submitted no later than 4pm on Monday, 20 March 2023.

Following the exhibition period, all survey responses on the proposed FOGO bin will be reviewed. A finalised version of the FOGO Proposal, incorporating and addressing the responses from the public, will then be put to Council. A decision will be made on adoption of the FOGO service at this time.

Should you require further information, please contact Council on 6354 9999.

NSW GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS LITHGOW’S STATE MINE HERITAGE PARK

Lithgow’s State Mine Heritage Park is one of nine cultural centres across the state to receive funding through round 2 of the NSW Government’s Volunteer Museum Small Grants.

Member for Bathurst said the Volunteer Museum Small Grants funding will support heritage experts and enable Lithgow’s mining history to be shared to a wider audience.

The $2000 grant will be used to purchase new horizontal plan cabinets that will provide proper, conservation standard storage of the museum’s large collection of historical mine plans.

“Local museums and galleries play an important part in sharing regional stories, and I am thrilled that Lithgow’s history, and our dedicated historians and volunteers are being supported by this funding,” Mr Toole said.

Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said the Volunteer Museum Small Grants Round 2 will support greater access and engagement with history projects across NSW and create opportunities for professionals in the field.

“These grants for regional galleries and museums are targeted to create opportunities for historians and volunteers and preserve NSW’s rich history for local communities and visitors from across the state,” Mr Franklin said.

Grant recipient, John Zeni from Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park Museum said that the Volunteer Museums Small Grants were an important way to support NSW museums.

“The grants distributed to NSW’s museums and galleries are a terrific program that makes a difference to our volunteers and volunteer run museums and we’re incredibly grateful for the support of the NSW Government and Museums and Galleries NSW,” Mr Zeni said.

This year’s Museums & Galleries of NSW Volunteer Museum Small Grants Fund rounds one and two have supported 18 organisations across the State. All round two recipients are from regional NSW.

Pictured: John Zeni from Lithgow State Mine Museum and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole.

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