Councillors vote to introduce green waste bins
Wingecarribee Shire Councillors on Wednesday night voted to introduce a regular green waste service across the Shire at the start of the next financial year.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of introducing a fortnightly 240 litre green waste collection service after a majority of survey respondents nominated a regular collection as their preferred method of green waste disposal.
“Many people within the community have been campaigning long and hard for the introduction of a regular green waste collection, and I’m pleased to announce that Council has voted to begin this service from 1 July next year,” said Wingecarribee Shire Mayor, Councillor Juliet Arkwright.
“I’d like to thank all residents who participated in our community consultation, the results of which clearly showed the level of support for a regular collection scheme.”
The results were compiled from almost 2,200 returned survey questionnaires where 62 per cent of respondents nominated a green waste bin collected fortnightly and costing ratepayers an additional $78 per annum as their preferred method of green waste disposal. This was ahead of a twice-yearly collection (2 per cent), optional ‘book and pay’ service’ (16 per cent) or ‘none of the above’ (20 per cent).
The new green waste service will be provided to all properties who currently receive Council’s existing residential waste collection service. The new bins will be rolled out progressively prior to the implementation date.
The green waste charge amounts to an increase in rates equivalent to $1.50 per week and all green waste will be processed into mulch at Council’s Resource Recovery Centre.
The introduction of the new waste service is scheduled to commence on 1 July 2014.
The full report which was considered by councillors, including the full survey results, can be found in the Business Papers for the Extraordinary Meeting held on 30 October, which is located on Council’s website: www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/business-papers