General News
15 September, 2025
Making Shire greener
THE community has backed Douglas Shire Council’s new waste reduction and recycling plan for the next five years, which is setting a clear pathway towards a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future for the region.
The plan, endorsed at the August ordinary council meeting, outlines strategic actions to reduce waste generation, improve recycling and strengthen the foundations of a circular economy across the Shire.
Community input helped shaped the plan through public consultation from 19 June to 18 July, 2025. The council invited feedback through surveys, events, social media and newsletters. Responses from the community provided valuable insights including:
95% of respondents agreed that waste reduction and recycling are important issues for the shire
70% prioritised education and behaviour change as the most critical area for improvement
More than 55% highlighted organics and food waste as a priority focus
Almost 70% said they are willing to do more to reduce waste and increase recycling.
Mayor Lisa Scomazzon encouraged the community to read the plan and take note of the council’s vision and targets.
“I really encourage everyone to read this because it clearly shows what (the) council’s vision and targets are and how the community can contribute to better recycling and waste use” she said.
Councillors noted the importance of working with the community to reduce contamination and expand local recycling opportunities. They welcomed the plan’s focus on investing organics options, tourism-related waste reduction and regional collaboration, particularly in light of recent challenges such as the fire at the Cairns advanced resource recovery facility.
Cr Michael Rees highlighted the practical benefits of the plan for residents and businesses.
“This is a fantastic report – long overdue. There’s a lot of money wasted in waste and we must remember it’s not just residential waste – we have tourists to deal with as well,” he said.
Cr Abigail Noli emphasised that the plan reflected the council’s commitment to protecting the shire’s unique environment.
“This plan reaffirms our commitment to environmental stewardship, economic opportunity and long-term resilience, ensuring Douglas remains clean, green and forward-thinking,” she said.
The plan sets actions across four priority areas – residents, schools, industry and the council – with an emphasis on:
Expanding waste education and behaviour change programs
Supporting organics diversion and composting initiatives
Promoting sustainable events and reusable options
Building regional partnerships to enhance recycling markets and infrastructure
Investigating solutions for difficult waste streams such as textiles, solar panels and household batteries.
Cr Scomazzon said “waste reduction is a responsibility we all share”.
“This plan shows that by working together – (the) council, residents, businesses and schools – we can reduce our footprint and continue to lead by example in sustainability,” he said.
Implementation of the plan will begin immediately, with progress reported annually through key performance indicators, such as waste diversion rates, participation in education programs and the number of households and businesses supported to reduce waste.
The plan can be viewed at www.bit.ly/4pdLq86
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