Resource recovery is the process of turning waste into something useful. Instead of throwing away materials, they are sorted, separated, and processed to get valuable resources like metals, plastics, paper and organic materials. These recovered materials can then be used to make new products, reducing the need to extract new resources from the environment.

For example, recycling paper and plastic products made into new materials, composting organic waste to create fertiliser, and recovering metals from electronic waste are all examples of resource recovery.

Resource recovery is important because it reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfills, conserves natural resources, and creates economic opportunities through the creation of new products and markets. It is part of the circular economy, which aims to minimise waste and make better use of resources.

Reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill:

• reduces the cost to the Ipswich community per tonne from the State waste levy introduced in 2019
• brings us closer to our diversion targets of 70% by 2030 and 95% by 2050
• with a continuously growing population it means that we would run out of space at landfills or need many more of them
• more jobs are created from the recycling industry
• more resources are captured and recycled so we can strive towards a circular economy

Given the exponential growth of our City’s population, the ever increasing costs associated with material disposal and the negative environmental impacts from landfill, Council is investigating further ways to recover valuable waste resources and reduce waste to landfill.

To be a sustainable city, we need to view waste as a resource to be continually reused, recycled and reprocessed as far as possible, rather than simply discarded to landfill at the end of its singular purpose.

By doing this we benefit the environment, protect our natural resources and provide economic benefit to the city.

There is also a legislative requirement, as the Queensland Government has set specific waste recycling and reduction targets for Ipswich and other cities to help move towards a circular economy.

All Queensland local governments are required to have a waste reduction and recycling plan under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011. Ipswich City Council have chosen to call their plan the Resource Recovery Strategy. The Strategy was adopted in 2021 (read the strategy here).

A thorough and well thought out plan or strategy will deliver better outcomes for the city.

Other factors that have driven Council's strategy regarding recovery resources from household waste include:

• 2018: China imposes ban on receiving waste for recycling from Australia. Read more here.
• 2019: Ipswich City Council conducts community consultation regarding reducing our waste to produce a draft Resource Recovery Strategy. Read more here.
• 2019: The Queensland State Government introduces a waste disposal levy. Read more here.
• 2020: Council of Australian Governments agreed to ban exporting waste (including glass, paper, plastics and tyres). Read more here.
• 2021: Council adopts the Resource Recovery Strategy and begins implementing the 4 key pillars for the Ipswich community. Read more here.

Ipswich City Council, through the Resource Recovery Strategy, is committed to providing the services and infrastructure that will continue driving a future that is responsible and sustainable on waste.

A Resource Recovery Centre is not a landfill site and isn’t responsible for any long-term storage of waste. Resource Recovery Centres are sorting facilities for domestic materials dropped off by residents such as white-goods, e-waste, hard plastics and organics. For a full list of items accepted at our Resource Recovery Centres please click here.

When these items are responsibly disposed of at these centres, many materials can be recovered and reused. This process is very beneficial as it:

• stops valuable materials from being buried as landfill waste
• reduces new raw materials being taken from the environment
• reduces the amount of the State waste disposal levy Ipswich community pays
• ensures our recovered waste material contributes to a circular economy

Our city is growing rapidly and our current waste infrastructure at Rosewood and Riverview is operating over capacity, resulting in long wait times and travel distances. It is time to address the urgent need for new waste infrastructure to meet the growing needs of our community, ensure safe and efficient waste management, and operate sustainably.

Building new waste infrastructure is a significant investment, but it is essential to provide state-of-the-art facilities capable of sorting household waste more efficiently.

Improved infrastructure means better recycling options for residents, reduced wait times and travel distance and a dedicated recycle-mart (tip shop).

GO stands for Garden Organics material. GO bins are designed for all of your garden waste. This organic waste is collected fortnightly and then turned into compost at a local composting facility. This compost is then returned back to the environment through various outlets, such as agriculture.

We can all do our part to make sure that we understand what Council is doing towards a circular economy and recycling and recovering materials from waste. Community can assist reducing the amount of waste they send to landfill by recycling and recovering items.

A circular economy is a system where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, waste minimised and materials are recycled or regenerated. This system is a sustainable alternative to the traditional wasteful and increasingly expensive linear economy of "take-make-dispose".

Click here to learn more on the steps Ipswich City Council is taking towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly circular economy.

You can find information on council waste services website and on the Ipswich Bin App.

Download the app now

Find out what you can recycle at council centres and other places here.