Through daily tips, the #ZeroWasteKatherine challenge aims to get people talking about consumption habits and reducing waste generation at home. 

Residents are already questioning the council’s initiative; Katherine falls far behind other municipalities on the recycling front, with no kerbside recycling options.

But, Katherine Town Council’s Corporate and Community Development executive manager Rosemary Jennings said the council’s approach is far more effective than recycling. 

“This challenge aims to prevent waste. Rather than to recycle it, we should first try to avoid, reduce and reuse our waste,” Ms Jennings said. 

“From an environmental perspective, the approach introduced by this challenge is far more effective than recycling.

“When the waste is unavoidable, we should of course always look at the possibility of recycling it.

“There are several recycling options available in Katherine, which include car batteries, containers eligible under the 10 cent scheme, scrap metal, electronic waste, mobiles, chemical drums, cartridges and oil,” she said.  

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Ms Jennings said council is aware of the desire for kerbside recycling, voiced by community members. 

But despite looking into ways of making recycling economically viable, Katherine’s remote location and the changes in the recycling market make the implementation of kerbside recycling a difficult process, she said. 

“Small changes in habits could hugely impact the amount of waste going into landfill each week,” Ms Jennings said. 

“If the community expresses its desire for eco-friendly products and habits from their local businesses this flow on effect can even produce positive change at a community-wide level,” she said. 

Katherine Town Council will also be joining the challenge with internal changes to make their processes more sustainable.

“Council will aim for paperless processes leading to a huge reduction in waste at the office,” Ms Jennings said. 

“Of course we will also participate in the 30 tips we will release in September as far as it is applicable in an office environment.

“From a community perspective, we can only encourage people to reduce their waste.

“At the same time, we will keep looking into ways to introduce more recycling.

“Council is looking into acquiring a green waste shredder for the Waste Management Facility to mulch our green waste and recycling of batteries is high on our agenda too.

“Council is always open for suggestions from the public as well, and they should feel free to contact us,” Ms Jennings said. 

To contact the council with your ideas on waste reduction call  (08) 8972 5500 or email records@ktc.nt.gov.au.