North West Regional Resource Recovery (NWRRR) Project

The North West Regional Resource Recovery (NWRRR) project is a partnership between the Cradle Coast Waste Management Group, the Tasmanian Government, and the North West Councils, including Burnie City Council.

The project aims to increase recycling and improve organics recovery by delivering consistent waste and recycling services across the region. This coordinated approach helps to:

Reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Increase recovery of recyclables and organics.
Support cleaner, more sustainable communities across the North West.

Why is it needed?

Tasmanians generate over 900,000 tonnes of waste every year, and much of it still ends up in landfill. When food and garden waste breaks down in landfill, it produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas.

The Tasmanian Government’s landfill levy, introduced in 2022, is helping to improve the way waste is managed across the state. The levy means it now costs more to send waste to landfill, which encourages everyone: households, businesses, and organisations, to make the most of our resources by reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering wherever possible.

As the levy gradually increases over the coming years to support new waste diversion initiatives, it’s more important than ever that we all play our part in keeping valuable materials out of landfill and protecting our environment for the future.

👉 You can read more about the landfill levy HERE.

What Will the Project Deliver?

Starting in 2024, the NWRRR project will:

Introduce a regional Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection and treatment service.
Promote consistent bin systems and collection standards across North West councils.
Develop regional education campaigns to help households and businesses sort waste correctly.
Reduce contamination in recycling and organics bins.
Support local resource recovery infrastructure and create opportunities for regional jobs.

Benefits for the Community

Environmental: Reduced greenhouse gas emissions and cleaner local environments.
Economic: Reduce landfill and costs over time and increase regional economic activity through innovation, circular economies, composting and recycling industries.
Social: A unified approach to sustainability across North West Tasmania, helping everyone play a part.

Business and Commercial Waste Initiatives

As part of this project, the Cradle Coast Waste Management Group is also exploring a Commercial Food Organics Collection Service to help hospitality and food retail businesses reduce waste costs and landfill impacts. A regional survey is currently underway, find out more at nwrrr.com.au/news.

Education and Community Engagement

Education is key to success. Across the region, the NWRRR project will deliver education programs to:

Support residents in using their FOGO and recycling bins correctly.
Work with schools and community groups to build long-term sustainable waste separation and recycling habits.
Help businesses understand the value of resources, waste separation , circular economics and compliance with upcoming waste reforms.
Support consistent messaging to reduce contamination and maximise resource recovery.

Get in touch if you would like an education officer to come to talk to your community group, school or workplace.

The North West Resource Recovery and Recycling FOGO YouTube Channel