HOMES with babies in nappies, pensioners and farmers are among a list of people who may be exempted from having to pay an extra $60 a year for Wodonga’s mandatory organic bins.
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Last night councillors unanimously endorsed a contract with rubbish collectors, Cleanaway, that will make Wodonga a three-bin city.
The recycle bin will remain, the red refuse bin reduced in size and collected fortnightly, while the green garden waste bin will become a receptacle for all organic material — including meat, pet faeces and soiled pizza boxes.
The council says it will divert almost half its rubbish away from landfill to create compost and reduce its carbon tax liability by $1.3 million over the 12-year contract.
The 8477 ratepayers who at present do not have the optional green bin will pay an extra $60 next year, while the 6646 who do will see their rates reduced by $43.
Cr Rod Wangman said it was part of making the city clean and green, an environmental leader.
But he also called for improvements to the organic bin system trialled in east Wodonga last year.
He said before the contract began Cleanaway had to improve the design of the under-sink caddy used to store the organics in the kitchen and ensure the corn starch bags used in the caddy lasted longer than one to two days.
The former mayor and his fellow councillors also called for an investigation, before the system is introduced next year, into exemptions and possible financial support for some ratepayers.
In particular Cr Wangman listed households that use nappies, including disabled adults; those who are already composting; people with medical conditions who may need a weekly collection of the red bin; and pensioners and farmers who do not generate enough rubbish to warrant the organic bin.
Cr Angela Collins said she was won over after meeting the residents involved in last year’s trial.
“The positives outweighed the negatives but there still needs to better education and some said the bags didn’t last more than one meal,” she said.
Cr Anna Speedie said council and businesses also needed to follow the program.
Last night’s decision will see Wodonga join Albury and Corowa shires in deploying the organic bins.
It will also green-light a yet-to-be-approved composting plant at Gerogery that is likely to take up to 15,000 tonnes of organic waste a year from councils in the program.
Greater Hume Council has previously decided not to adopt the three-bin policy, ruling it out as too costly to its community.
