Waste and water are two big issues which impact our everyday life.
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Can’t live without one, whose supply is finite, and we keep making way too much of the other.
Singleton Council is grappling with both issues calling for more State Government assistance when it comes to recycling and that wonderful promotion known as the war on waste.
They are also looking to find the funds to provide clean drinking water to the communities most impacted by mine dust.
First to waste, last week we reported on the recent ban delivered by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on what is called Mixed Waste Organic material output (MWOO).
MWOO is the composted organic waste extracted from your red bin. Headlines about the product containing nappies and other nasties may be attention grabbing but they don’t really explain the product and its uses and what will happen now the ban has been instituted.
This product has been used for about a decade by mining and agriculture industries. During that time the companies that produce it have improved their techniques along with the quality. And no doubt those improvements would have continued as demand increased.
Now MWOO will still be made but instead of being spread on mine rehabilitation sites and farmlands it will end up in landfill. The worst outcome possible as it causes methane as it breaks down.
If the EPA had concerns about the product then perhaps ban its use on farmland and do further testing on mine sites to find if any toxicity exists. In several European countries no waste goes to landfill therefore here in Australia given this latest kneejerk reaction we have a long way to go to follow their example.
Water for Bulga and Milbrodale residents. So many ideas, so much discussion, much promised but the villagers are still waiting.
It must be remembered these folks live cheek and jowl with the massive open cut coal mines and they are edging ever closer thanks to recent approvals.
So for their health having on tap water is essential as their existing roof top collection methods are dangerous due to the dust pollution. Pollution which we might add the EPA appears to tolerate more easily than MWOO.