Belmont North Community Recycling Centre opens
Lake Macquarie residents can now dispose of their household problem waste items free-of-charge at the new Belmont North Community Recycling Centre (CRC).
The CRC, located at Floraville Road, will accept paints, oils, gas bottles, fluoro lights, smoke detectors, batteries and other household waste items.
The project received $1.3m in joint funding from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
“The upgraded and accessible facility will empower the local community to reduce their waste, recycle and go a long way in protecting the environment,” said Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty. “This centre will make it easier for the community to safely dispose of problem household waste responsibly.”
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the city’s second CRC complemented the existing site at the Awaba Waste Management Facility on the western side of the lake.
“A second CRC site will make recycling problem waste more accessible and convenient for residents right across Lake Macquarie,” he said. “Last year we diverted about 250 tonnes of problem waste from landfill through the Awaba CRC and had more than 13,000 visitors come through and drop items off.
“We hope to see similar results at our new facility as we make it easier for people to do the right thing and keep problem waste out of landfill.”
NSW EPA Executive Director of Programs and Innovation Alexandra Geddes said, “As we transition to a circular economy and tackle the landfill crisis, facilities like the Belmont centre provide local communities a free, easy and safe way to keep harmful materials from landfill, while championing reuse and sustainability.”
The Awaba CRC has proved a key cog in city’s circular economy since opening in April 2014. In the last year, council recovered about 89 tonnes of paint, 75 tonnes of electronic waste, 36 tonnes of car batteries, 31 tonnes of motor oil and 25 tonnes of gas cylinders at the centre.
The centre also recycled eight tonnes of expanded polystyrene — which would fill up 1400 standard wheelie bins — and 150 tonnes of cardboard, the equivalent of about 100 standard passenger cars.
Minster for Hunter and member for Swansea Yasmin Catley said, “The opening of the [new] facility shows what we can achieve when the community and government work together — making it easier for everyone to live more sustainably.
“This is about more than just recycling — it’s about pride in our town and doing right by the planet. Swansea locals care and now they’ve got a dedicated space to turn that care into action.”
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