The Border and North East's major waste contractor has welcomed a Victorian government suggestion councils consider moving to a four-bin system.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Cleanaway's head of investor relations and corporate affairs Frank Sufferin said a four-bin system would help reduce contamination and thus reduce the amount of recyclables that have to go to landfill.
Last week, the Victorian government asked councils affected by the closure of waste disposal company SKM to consider introducing a four-bin waste system.
No Southern Riverina or North East councils have been affected by the company's abrupt closure, with all bar Towong and Wangaratta contracted to Cleanaway.
On Monday, Greater Hume and Wangaratta councils said they would consider all their options when their current contract is up for renewal.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Mr Sufferin said the company was supportive of a four-bin system, but it was a decision individual councils would have to make.
"We're very supportive but would have an additional cost and people would need to be able store four bins kerbside," he said.
"Obviously with a four bin system people are doing more at home, which would cut down on contamination even further."
Mr Sufferin said about 10 per cent of recyclables from Albury-Wodonga and surrounding areas were contaminated.
"Unfortunately there's no place other than landfill (for contaminated recyclables to go)," he said.
"We don't want to but a lot of times it'll be food contamination that occurs.
"A lot of people put in food containers with food still in them and when we pick up the bin and put it in the back of the truck, it's not just that bin that's contaminated but the other stuff collected."
Mr Sufferin said comparatively the Border region was proactive about recycling.
He said Melbourne had a contamination rate of about 20 per cent.
"In terms of contamination rate, it'd be great to see zero, but I do have to commend (Border) councils' education programs," he said.