Tara Murray
Rubbish bins would be emptied every fortnight under proposed changes to waste collection in Brimbank when the municipality implements a four-bin system.
Brimbank council released its Waste Reform Preferred Collection Service Model report at last week’s council meeting, which will shape the council’s waste and recycling going forward.
The model will not be introduced until after July 1, 2023.
In the report, officers recommended a four-bin residential kerbside waste and recycling collection service model in response to the state government’s waste reforms, with every council having to change their bin systems by 2027
Under the changes in Brimbank, the frequency of kerbside garbage collection would go from weekly to fortnightly, recycling would continue to be collected fortnightly, a new separate residential kerbside glass collection would be collected monthly and the grass waste collection bin reverts to food organics and garden organics [FOGO] collected weekly.
In the 2020-21 financial year, 46,186 tonnes of rubbish was collected in Brimbank, while 16,046 tonnes of recycling was collected.
Councillor Bruce Lancashire said the issue of waste collection had become increasingly important to council and the community.
“It’s not just athing that gets collected every week and is significant to all of us and our residents,” he said.
“It’s an important part of the future of our environmental and circular economy to make sure we recycle as much waste as possible.
“It is a big step in that direction. It is complicated and there needs to be extensive community consultation.”
Councillor Jae Papalia said the municipality has seen the devastating effects of landfill and that there needs to be change in the way waste is managed.
Councillor Trung Luu said while he supported the initiative, he understands there will be some reservations.
“I urge the community to take part in this consultation when it occurs,” he said.
“Issues relating to the timeframe of rubbish being collected, the number of bins, bin size doesn’t change.
“My family we would struggle being a family of seven including five kids. I urge residents to sort out your bins and get rid of the rubbish.”
The council will put the model out for public consultation next year.
