By Tate Papworth
The Brimbank council has called on the state government to re-evaluate recycling and waste management.
In a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into the current recycling and waste management crisis, the council urged the government to assess the provision of waste disposal and recycling services, among a number of other recommendations.
Mayor Lucinda Congreve said Brimbank’s submission also notes the impact that historic waste and contamination issues continue to have on Melbourne’s west.
“For far too long Melbourne’s west has unfairly absorbed a large portion of Victoria’s waste, the effects of which we are still feeling today,” she said. “We are asking for the storage and processing of waste to be equally and fairly distributed across the state – not just the north-west.”
Cr Congreve said the recent issues with kerbside recycling highlighted the vulnerability of the industry and the significant financial pressures being placed on councils and ratepayers.
“These events have the potential to derail the past 20 years of recycling efforts in Brimbank, and the community’s confidence in our ability to provide recycling services.”
The state government last week pledged $35 million in its 2019-20 budget to strengthen and diversify the waste and recycling industry.
