By Laura Michell
Brimbank council has welcomed state government plans to help ease the financial impact of SKM Recycling’s insolvency on councils.
The government will provide a $6.6 million package to the 33 affected councils over the next four months, providing them with a rebate to cover the costs they are incurring to deal with recyclable waste.
However, the councils will need to demonstrate that alternative options to sending kerbside recycling collections to landfill are being sought and that as much material as possible is being recycled.
They will also need to agree to be fully transparent about future waste contracts and to work with the government on a ban on exporting recyclable waste.
Kerbside recycling collections from Brimbank are still being sent to landfill while the council searches for a long-term solution to the recycling crisis.
Brimbank mayor Lucinda Congreve said the council was keen to find out more about the relief package.
“We welcome the announcement that some financial relief looks to be on the horizon … this should go some way towards helping offset some of the additional costs councils are facing as a result of having to divert the community’s recyclables away from SKM facilities,” she said.
“We will be seeking further details from the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio about how Brimbank can access this relief package, including the conditions attached.”
Brimbank welcomes state response to recycling issues t.co/MMoILwTP0x
— BrimbankCityCouncil (@BrimbankCouncil) August 15, 2019
Ms D’Ambrosio said the government wanted to work with councils and the industry on a “major overhaul” of kerbside collections to improve the quality of recyclables being collected by councils.
She said this may include extra bins for households to improve the separation of waste.
“This short-term financial relief supports councils immediately while all levels of government work together on a longer-term solution,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
Brimbank council has also welcomed the government’s commitment to working with SKM’s receiver to remove stockpiles of waste at SKM sites across Melbourne’s north west, including at Derriumut and Sunshine.
