Why is a Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy needed?

    There has been significant population growth and changes to the waste industry in recent years, and we anticipate these influences will continue.

    Each year, the average household in City of Coffs Harbour produces around 1,400kg of waste – much of which ends up in landfill.  

    The development of a new Strategy will provide a blueprint for how the City and the community will work together to manage waste and create a more sustainable future.

    The City wants to work with community to reduce the creation of waste and to maximise recycling.


    How is City of Coffs Harbours waste currently managed?

    The City works with community, to ensure we send as little as possible to landfill to preserve our finite resources and the beautiful environment we live in.

    The City provides weekly and fortnightly kerbside collection services, as well as waste transfer stations and twice-yearly bulky goods collections.

    The City’s waste services include Coffs Coast Waste.

    • Englands Road Waste Management Facility 

    • Woolgoolga Transfer Station 

    • Coramba Transfer Station 

    • Lowanna Transfer Station 

    What can I do?

    Visit Coffs Coast Waste ServicesLet’s Get Composting Coffs Coast and Midwaste websites to find out more about how you can help reduce waste and access waste education resources, including: 

    • An A to Z disposing and recycling items  

    How does the kerbside 3-bin system work?

    The 3-bin system this includes:  

    1. Red – non-recoverable waste that is destined for landfill (nappies etc) 

    1. Green – food scraps and garden organics that are processed and turned into compost. 

    1. Yellow – recyclables that are recovered, sorted, and turned back into usable products. 

    With this system, residents sort their waste at home. For example, all food waste is placed into the Green-lidded Bin which also takes garden organics such as grass clippings, small branches etc. This system allows the product to be produced into a high-grade compost. 

    How are Bulky Waste Services managed?

    The City offers bulky waste services to eligible domestic properties only (i.e. those paying Domestic Waste Occupied Land Charge).  

    User-Pay Kerbside Bulky Household Waste Collection (2 per year) 
    Self-haul free Bulky Household Waste Disposal Vouchers (2 per year) 

    To learn more or to book a service visit Bulky Household Waste 

    Why does our waste get sent out of our area?

    The existing Englands Road Waste Management Facility has limited capacity and therefore no longer accepts red bin waste.   

    Transporting waste to alternate sites is the most cost-effective solution. The City is developing a longer-term waste strategy, including plans to build a Transfer Station within the next five years. Transfer Stations are designed to enhance recycling and reduce waste sent to landfill. 

    What is the strategic direction of waste in NSW?

    The NSW Environment Protection Authority is required to develop a waste strategy for the State – this is currently the NSW Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041—Stage 1: 2021–2027 

    The development of a new Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy will provide a framework for the City to reduce the impacts of waste and will lead the City of Coffs Harbour towards a sustainable future.  


    What will be the focus of the new Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy?

    The Strategy will set out a clear path forward on how the City of Coffs Harbour community will move towards a more circular economy. This includes identifying ways to reduce waste that goes into landfill by getting organics out of the waste bin and getting more recyclables into recycling bins  

    Currently around half of the content of red lid bins (that goes to landfill belongs in other bins. The other half is either food and garden organics (which should be recycled via the green-lid bin or via home composting) or is recyclable (which should be recycled via the yellow-lid bin) 

    The City provides an industry-leading kerbside bin collection system, however, community uptake and understanding of what should go in each bin can continue to improve