Local streets resemble “war zones” because Brimbank council’s hard rubbish policy is vague, and people put their rubbish out too early, residents are claiming.
The council’s hard rubbish program ran from June 27 to August 5 across six areas of Brimbank.
Ardeer resident Daniela Duspara said people are dumping everything on their front yards, from pillows, clothes and couches to carpets, weeks before their area’s designated pick-up.
Sunshine resident Monika said last Thursday “the streets look like war zones”.
“[A] pile of burnt rubbish has been next door for weeks now, and no amount of calls to council seems to get any results,” she said.
Ms Duspara called on the council to clarify its hard rubbish policy.
“Can you please review how early people can have hard rubbish put out?” she asked the council on social media last week.
“The street smells. It’s winter, it rains, material smells, wind blows furniture onto the road. It’s been weeks [since it was put there].”
She said there needed to be clearer guidelines and definitive collection times.
“Some residents put out their hard rubbish in June, and it [still] has not been collected,” she told Star Weekly last week.
“The flyer that Brimbank council have provided some residents did not include a specific date, forcing residents to put out their rubbish earlier than necessary.
“This is a safety hazard as items are being blown over onto footpaths and roads.”
A council spokesperson said residents should put their rubbish out only the weekend before their area’s collection date to avoid “scavenging”.
The council recently signed a $900,000 plus, hard rubbish collection contract for the next financial year.
Council’s acting infrastructure and environment director Adrian Gray said all residents receive a brochure that details when and which items go in hard rubbish to be left on nature strips. “Residents who put their annual hard waste collection out early can be asked to remove it, with a notice issued to the owner,” he said. “Residents usually respond to the request. The time to place hard rubbish out for collection in 2016 has ended, and council is now removing the last hard rubbish pick-ups.”
Residents can book in a user pays ‘at call’ collection service on 9721 1915. No more than three cubic metres will be collected.
