ALBURY Council’s move to introduce a new organics bin collection service has been criticised by one city resident, who says it will cost ratepayers more and smell bad.
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The council announced it would reduce the charge for green waste collection to $13 until June 30 as an incentive to encourage more people to start using green bins.
The aim is to more than double the number of green bin users from 10,000 households to 22,000 ahead of the introduction of the organics system.
Green-lidded bins will be compulsory for all households as a part of the organics three-bin service which is due to start in April.
Under the organics system, items such as food waste, garden scraps, pet droppings and contaminated paper such as paper towels and pizza boxes can all be included in green bin waste, rather than being put in the red-lidded rubbish bin.
The council will introduce weekly collections of the 240-litre green bins and fortnightly collections of the 140-litre red rubbish bins.
It anticipates the cost to ratepayers of the new system will be similar to the $278 a year now charged for the existing three-bin service.
Resident Louise Cameron said she didn’t believe ratepayers should have to foot the cost of a third household bin.
“If you’re in a rental property and you have no lawns, what do you need a green bin for to put your scraps in, they have not even thought of people in rental properties,” she said.
“It’s a health issue with red bins.
“Think of a family with two kids in nappies, leaving those in a bin that is being collected fortnightly.
“Already in summer my general waste stinks after a week; in a fortnight there’s going to be flies and maggots and God knows what, I think it is horrendous.”
But Albury Council’s Andrea Baldwin said food scraps would still be collected weekly in the green bin and there would be no hygiene issue.
She said an extensive public awareness campaign would also be implemented, giving ratepayers information on how to manage specific waste items.
A recent audit of Albury households that do not have a green bin showed up to 40 per cent of their general rubbish contained recyclable garden waste.
Those who already use the green bins tend to use them properly.
The council’s general manager Frank Zaknich said once the general rubbish was contaminated, it could not be recycled.
“We are getting a high proportion of green waste in our waste bins, which is not the best place for it because once it’s in the waste we can’t separate it, so we are really encouraging residents to take up a green waste bin and dispose of their waste for recycling more effectively,” he said.
Wodonga and Indigo councils will join the organics three-bin program from July 1.
