By Renee Wood
In line with the state government’s new and mandatory waste policy, Yarra Ranges Council is proposing changes for kerbside rubbish pick ups.
From October next year, more than 60,000 properties will have a green food organics and garden organic (FOGO) bins introduced for weekly pick up, while waste bins will be cut down to fortnightly.
Recycling will stay on a fortnightly pick up and the new purple lid glass bin is expected to be brought in by 2025 for a monthly pick up.
The Draft Waste Plan will be deliberated at the Tuesday 13 September council meeting.
“This is probably one of the most important items that we’ve had to deal with at Council,” Mayor Jim Child said.
Other councils, such as Knox City Council, have been met with resident outrage as they’ve made the decision to change the services without community consultation.
However, Yarra Ranges Council is hopeful residents concerns’ will be appeased once there is an understanding that a weekly pick up of the FOGO bin will dispose of ‘smelly’ food scraps – removing the necessity for a weekly pick up of the waste bin.
The new green organic system will allow for organic waste such as food scraps, seafood, meat bones and coffee grounds that will then go to be processed at a composting facility.
Small kitchen caddies and compostable bags will also be delivered for the easy disposal of scraps that can then be placed in the FOGO bin.
Nappies, home sanitary and medical waste items will still need to go into the waste bin, collected fortnightly.
Council said it’s working with other councils to establish the best option for those items including education programs, reusable nappies support and nappy recycling systems.
The waste bin will also see a change with all bins to get a new red lid placed on them.
This is part of the State Government’s policy which is bringing all Victorian councils in line to the same colour coding of kerbside waste.
Which are as follows:
– Food & Garden Organics – lime green lid (food waste, green waste)
– Mixed Recycling – yellow lid (paper, cardboard, plastics, metals)
– Glass Recycling – purple lid (bottles, jars)
– Rubbish – red lid (non-recyclable household waste)
Sustainable Victoria statistics show that by removing food and organic waste from general waste it will cut the waste bin’s deposits by 40 per cent, which is why the waste bin will be moving to a fortnightly pick up. A further 10 per cent of waste bin’s content could also be recycled such as plastics and paper.
Yarra Ranges Waste Management Executive Officer Graham Brew said the move to pick up the waste bin fortnightly is justified if 50 per cent of current waste will be going to other allocated bins and diverted away from landfill.
“It’s unnecessary if the bins aren’t going to be full and the material that’s there is odourless, so it’s not going to smell because hopefully the majority is doing the right thing, it’s all going to be in their weekly bin,” Mr Brew said.
The changes to rates aren’t yet known as council is waiting for the tender process to be finalised to understand the costs involved.
It’s expected the increase in the service level and it’s affect on rates will be submitted in the budget next year.
Residents won’t be able to opt in or out of services as the overhaul will see a change in the shire wide standard of service.
Extensive engagement and community consultation of the draft plan will be undertaken with pop ups at markets, shopping centres and engagement activities for the community to be part of.
Residents can tune into the council meeting 7pm Tuesday 13 September.
