The building at the Albury Waste Management Centre (AWMC) will be a hub for school children to learn about waste, sustainability, energy and water conservation.
Known as the SMART Centre – Sustainable Management and Resource Training – the $600,000 building includes resource and training aids, a composting garden made from recycled timber, and a bee house to encourage pollination of native plants.
Four staff will work on site and the community will be encouraged to use it for sustainability workshops, meetings and other related events.
AlburyCity Mayor Kevin Mack said the SMART Centre would further enhance Albury’s role as a national leader in waste management and recycling.
“Our Halve Waste program and advanced recycling techniques make us leaders in the field of waste management and sustainability so it makes sense to build upon that success by teaching children and the wider community about the future of sustainable waste practices,” he said.
“We look forward to developing new generations of waste-wise leaders so they can build upon the industry-leading work we’ve pioneered at the AWMC.”
Albury’s Youth Mayor Eli Davern said the SMART Centre would be embraced by the leaders of the future.
“A more sustainable future is one of the most important issues for young people so it’s exciting for our Youth Council to be able to support this new centre and help to ensure tomorrow’s leaders have recycling and waste reduction at front of mind,” he said.
The education centre will also serve as a focal point for community and school tours of the Albury Waste Management Centre.
Meanwhile, as part of further efforts to reduce the city’s environmental footprint, Council has purchased its first electric vehicle.
Bought at a cost of $54,000, the Hyundai IONIQ Electric will be used by the Halve Waste team to visit schools and community groups to promote sustainability across the region.
The vehicle will be charged at the EV charging station at the AWMC, providing ratepayers with long-term savings in fuel costs while producing zero emissions.
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