Council to vote on hard waste
Service set to cost $3.75m
“I don’t think dumping will completely stop but the trial will reduce the amount of rubbish dumped.” MELISSA YOUNG
GEELONG Council will tomorrow vote on the introduction of a $3.75 million hard waste collection service.
A report to the council recommends it approve the implementation of a one-year call-for-collection hard waste service starting in April next year.
Households will receive one annual dial-in collection under the plan, allowing for the easier removal of solid waste such as furniture and white goods.
The estimated budget required for the service would be $750,000 in 2018/19 and a further $3 million in 2019/20 — to be funded by a $6.80 rates increase per household, revealed in last month’s draft Council Budget.
The introduction of the service will require council to hire a full-time officer to maintain the service, at an estimated cost of $106,000 per year.
Council also plans to spend $50,000 on promotion and advertising for the service.
The council report noted the service would improve recycling opportunities, provide easier access to hard rubbish removal for the elderly and disabled, and provide a cheaper removal option.
The new service has already been welcomed by ratepayers, with Corio resident Melissa Young last week telling the Geelong Advertiser she hoped it would deter people from dumping unwanted hard rubbish around the municipality.
“I don’t think dumping will completely stop but the trial will reduce the amount of rubbish dumped,” Ms Young said.
Waste charges will rise to $316.90 per household in 2018-19 under the draft budget, with council set to net an extra $4.8 million through the increase, taking total waste management charges paid by residents to $34.87 million.
The hard waste collection is open to community input and is part of the draft budget released earlier this week.
Meanwhile, room for eight years of Geelong’s rubbish will be created at the Drysdale tip next year, council has revealed.
Council will buy a $150,000 dump truck for the facility, and $980,000 will be put towards maintenance, upgrades and meeting an EPA ban on electronic waste at the site from July 1.