Council opts for weekly red bin collections

Orange households will continue to have their red-lidded bin collected every week, following a unanimous decision by the latest Orange City Council meeting to set the terms of a new ten year waste management contract.

After a community debate lasting many months over an earlier proposal to consider a fortnightly red bin waste collection, the 16 February meeting considered a report that under the new contract it would only cost households an extra $18.75 a year to keep their current weekly collection compared to the expected costs of the proposed fortnightly service.

The council also heard the results of a three month trial and waste audit which found that while around 70% of Orange residents could manage with having their red bin collected every two weeks without major changes, there would be significant problems for households where more than five people lived and where there were a number of younger children in nappies.

Mayor John Davis said the council was aiming to get the balance right as it managed a significant change for local households.

“It makes good environmental sense and it’s in line with the long term council commitment that we to have to be putting less and less waste into landfill,” Cr John Davis said. “The original proposal to move to a fortnightly red bin was all about encouraging residents to sort their waste more and use their recycling bin and kitchen and garden waste bin more.”

“The trial showed that while two-thirds of us are ready now to make that change, around one-third would find it difficult. All the councillors have heard the response from the community and all the councillors have been very active in trying to find the best way forward.”

“The council has listened closely to that solid opposition and we’ve decided to put more resources into a comprehensive and ongoing education campaign.”

The council has also set a five year target for Orange residents to be meeting the State Government’s target of diverting 70% of all waste away from landfill.

Currently more than half (57%) of Orange’s total waste is being diverted into recycling or compost production. The council decided that if that if that proportion hadn’t reached 70% in five years’ time, or if the NSW Government imposes a levy on local councils that put waste into landfill, the current waste contract should include the option of re-visiting a fortnightly red-bin.

Based on figures from other councils that already pay a waste levy, Orange City Council could begin by paying around $410,000 a year to the government. The amount would rise to around $3 million a year if the levy is implemented in Orange as it has been in other areas of NSW. This could add between $25 and $200 top the annual household waste bill.

The new 10 year waste contract is due to begin in early April. The council meeting set the terms of the new contract that will see households will have a weekly red (general waste) and green (organic waste) collection as well as a fortnightly yellow (recycling) bin collection.