The Ku-ring-gai Council area estimated resident population for 2020 is 127,603, with a population density of 1,494 persons/km². In 2016, 38.9% of people in Ku-ring-gai Council area were born overseas.

Ku-ring-gai residents value a clean, green environment around them.

The Waste Management Strategy identifies litter prevention as a Council priority and highlights the Council’s commitment to meeting the State Government target of 40% litter reduction by 2021. The Council also strives to divert 60% of total household waste from landfill.

Between 2014 and 2018 the Council has delivered a significant reduction in litter, exceeding the Premier’s target of 40% with an average of 85% reduction in litter across all sites since 2015. The current priority is to maintain this 85% reduction across the Council area.

The Council supports the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NRSOC) Regional Waste Strategy.

Projects

Using NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More funding from the waste levy, the Ku-ring-gai Council has conducted litter assessments across Ku-ring-gai’s centres. Results have informed Council’s litter strategies by identifying where the priority hotspots are, their usage and littering behaviour.

In 2013, the Council introduced the Litter Free Ku-ring-gai program. The Council has received multiple NSW EPA grants to improve physical infrastructure by repairing or improving the street litter bins, installing new butt bins and mall seats in centres, removing litter and landscaping. Litter prevention trials have been undertaken at St Ives Showground, Lindfield Oval and North Turramurra Recreation Area with a view of rolling out further projects.

As outlined in the 2019-2029 Waste Strategy, a visual audit is conducted every two years to assess the cleanliness of hotspot sites. The most recent audit was completed in 2020.

Reverse vending machines were installed in early 2021 in Turramurra and St Ives for recycling bottles and other containers in return for cash. Council approved the installation following community consultation in 2020, which showed overwhelming support. The Ray Street public car park at Turramurra and the St Ives Shopping Centre Car park are the first sites in Ku-ring-gai to have reverse vending machines installed. Other machines will be installed as suitable locations are identified.

The Council regularly maintains 97 pit baskets and 63 gross pollutant traps as part of the stormwater pollution control device maintenance contract. This maintenance removed approximately 70.16 tonnes of pollutants from the waterways.

Litters bins have recently been moved to improve access for public and contractors.
Rangers interacted with the public at car parks to promote litter prevention and education.

The Council’s Better Business Partnership (BBP) program provides sustainability advice to small and medium businesses in Ku-ring-gai. This advice has included waste, energy and water audits and has led to the diversion of waste from landfill, annual electricity and water savings. The program has been delivered in partnership with Willoughby and North Sydney Councils since 2009 with Ku-ring-gai Council now the BBP program coordinator and manager until June 2023. There are 127 accredited businesses currently registered with the program (with 50 members in Ku-ring-gai, 35 in North Sydney and 42 in Willoughby).

Hotspots

• results from litter assessment have identified a few major town centres and transport hubs as highly littered
• cigarette butts, takeaway containers and plastic drink bottle containers are the main litter items.