Kerbside rubbish collection is in for a shake-up as Brimbank council moves toward minimising its reliance on landfill.
The council will review the cost and benefit of an ‘at call’ service for hard rubbish collection and has increased the products which can be included in kerbside recycling collections.
Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said the council’s new waste, recycling and litter strategy reflected community sentiment.
“What we heard, loud and clear is that the community does not like waste going to landfill, and a high priority for Brimbank is to increase recycling services and programs,” Cr Giudice said.
“Council echoes this sentiment and is serious about reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.”
Under the new strategy, soft plastics such as bread, pasta and biscuit packets, will now be accepted into kerbside recycling collection.
Green organics, such as food scraps, will be accepted in the kerbside green waste collection.
In a bid to reduce rubbish dumping, the council will also review an ‘at-call’ service to collect hard rubbish. The council presently offers one free annual hard rubbish collection.
It will also push for increased penalties for commercial dumping, extend enforcement activity focusing on dumping hotspots and review and extend its public waste and recycling bin network.
Cr Giudice said the strategy has a heavy focus on community education, but more assistance was needed at a higher level.
“It [the policy] reinforces council’s commitment to helping our community to live and work in an environmentally sustainable manner,” Cr Giudice said.
“We’re sick and tired of the state government’s continued reliance on landfill as a solution to Melbourne’s waste needs and we need to get clever about sustainable waste and resource recovery technologies.
“It’s time to collectively explore new ways of recovering resources.”
The waste strategy was approved at last week’s council meeting. The kerbside collection changes are scheduled to be phased in over the next few years. The council will provide households with information and advice prior to any change to kerbside waste collection services taking effect.
Details: brimbank.vic.gov.au
