By Staff Writer

According to a report from former South Australian senior state CEO, Bill Cossey, local government has made a "very successful" transition from collecting and disposing of waste for public health reasons to providing leadership on environmental issues in waste management.

The Local Government Association of South Australia says that while councils may not have received due recognition for this role they face further challenges in helping communities to achieve new environmental targets for waste.

“We commissioned this report as a review of where we are up to, potential future directions and to assure us that we are on track to maintain a lead on recycling and waste management,” said LGA executive director, Wendy Campana.

The report notes that State Government and Environment Protection Agency targets will require Councils to help communities to divert a further 143,000 tonnes from landfill.

It also points out that higher landfill standards in country areas will result in significant costs.

Mr Cossey found that about 10 per cent of council costs related to waste management and recycling and that Local Government is well positioned to contribute to the key South Australian Strategic Plan target which requires a reduction of 25 per cent of waste deposited to landfill by 2010.

Councils are being called on to respond to the report by February 1, next year for discussion at an LGA President’s Forum on February 28.