East Gippsland Shire Council’s investment to turn the landfill in Lakes Entrance into a transfer station is nearing completion, with the site to offer a better environmental outcome for the region from early 2022.

Council used an innovative process called phytocapping to cap the landfill site. This technology was previously employed at the award-winning Bosworth Road Recreational Area (a former landfill) in Bairnsdale and uses trees as a “bio-pump” to reduce water infiltration into waste and lower greenhouse emissions.

“Our use of state-of-the-art phytocapping technology to rehabilitate decommissioned landfill sites is eco-friendly, cost-effective, sustainable,” Fiona Weigall, General Manager Assets and Environment, said.

The new transfer station is also being upgraded to more effectively recycle items and reduce reliance on landfills.

“The change to Lakes Entrance landfill is just one of the many steps we’re taking to encourage our residents to recycle and reduce the quantity of waste we send to landfill,” Ms Weigall said.

“We’ve removed fees for disposing of most recyclable items such as paper, cardboard, glass bottles and jars, steel, hard plastic containers and polystyrene. Scrap metal, white goods green waste and electronic waste are also free,” Ms Weigall said. “By backing recycling in this way we’re tackling illegal dumping and promoting a recycle, repair, reuse economy.”

Waste that cannot be processed at the new Lakes Entrance Transfer Station will be transported to Bairnsdale Landfill for disposal. The use of a centralized landfill avoids significant landfill construction, operation, closure and after-care costs.

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