AN attempt to re-introduce the annual hard waste collection service in Albury was convincingly knocked back by the council last night.
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Seven of the nine councillors agreed changing the system would be a step backwards.
A move to look into the costs and practicality of the kerb side system which ended in 2009 was originally put forward by Cr Darren Cameron at the September council meeting.
However Cr David Thurley moved at last night’s meeting that the system should remain intact, with further promotion on how people with limited access to vouchers and services can dispose of waste.
He said the report clearly showed the kerb side system wouldn’t reduce waste, would lead to more rapid land fill and wouldn’t be sorted and recycled as well as it currently is.
“With street recovery it all goes into the same big mess,” Cr Thurley said.
In the report, the NSW waste recovery target is 70 per cent for municipal waste, however Albury sat on 44 per cent in this area during the last financial year.
The hard waste removal system with no vouchers would come at an additional cost of $2.98 per household.
Cr Cameron said the change was affordable and needed for people who rent and people with difficulties accessing the tip.
“Tenants in many circumstances don’t get access to their vouchers despite the fact that council officers do make efforts,” Cr Cameron said.
“The very fact that only 31 people last year got assistance says to me that people are having trouble accessing assistance.”
More than 20,000 tip vouchers were used last year which was proof enough for Cr Henk van de Ven that the current system is working.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack said the council would focus on promoting the home-based collection for people who needed it.
He said the council had to work with the disadvantaged and elderly to promote the use of the service.