The Central West Queensland Regional Waste Management Plan identifies the region’s waste management priorities and provides a framework for collaborative action across RAPAD’s seven member councils.
Funding through the Queensland Government’s Let’s Get it Sorted (LGIS) Partnership Program supports a specific area of this work, providing resources for waste education and behaviour change activities across the region.
RAPAD Senior Project Officer Kate Birse works with RAPAD’s seven member councils on regional waste management and resource recovery priorities. The LGIS funding enables Kate to undertake dedicated waste education and behaviour change activities alongside this broader regional work.
Kate said education and community engagement are an important part of improving waste and resource recovery outcomes across the region.
“Our councils have been working together for several years to identify and address the waste management challenges and opportunities facing Central West Queensland,” Kate said.
“Improving infrastructure and finding viable recycling and resource recovery pathways are important parts of that work, but education and community participation also have an important role to play.
“The LGIS funding provides an opportunity to work with councils and communities on education and engagement activities that respond to local priorities and support better waste and resource recovery practices.”
Waste education and engagement activities are already underway across the region.
Recently, Kate spoke with Year 11 and 12 Chemistry students at Barcaldine State High School about how science, technology and innovation are helping transform waste into valuable resources.
Students explored the role of chemistry in recycling plastics and textiles, recovering resources from end-of-life tyres, organics and construction waste, and emerging technologies including AI-powered sorting and waste-to-energy solutions.
“The school session was a great opportunity to look at waste from a different perspective – not simply as something we throw away, but as materials that science, technology and innovation can help us recover and use again,” Kate said.
“It was also an opportunity to show students the range of science, technology and career opportunities within the waste and resource recovery industry.
“Education and engagement is one part of improving waste and resource recovery outcomes. We’re working with councils to identify activities that are practical, useful and relevant to their individual communities.”
RAPAD’s regional waste work brings together the seven Central West Queensland councils to identify shared challenges, explore regional opportunities and support improved waste management and resource recovery outcomes.
The LGIS Behaviour Change Coordinator program is funded by the Queensland Government.
Interested in hosting an activity at your school, club or community group?
Please get in touch with Kate at: kbirse@rapad.com.au