KERB APPEAL: BOOK IN FOR NEW WASTE COLLECTION
Big changes to kerbside collection
KERBSIDE waste collection has been given a shake-up as Townsville City Council plays catch-up after the coronavirus pandemic.
The council will transition to an on-call system in which residents can place a booking to have their waste collected.
In 2018 and 2019, the council provided an annual schedule hard waste collection to eligible Townsville residents, but COVID-19 restrictions made it impossible for the council to complete the collection this year.
On average, the council collects about 2900 tonnes of material across the city each year and the service has been sorely missed in 2020.
Mayor Jenny Hill said that she was pleased the council was able adapt the service so it could continue, but emphasised to staff that they must ensure the project kicked off on time.
“Hopefully we don’t have too many thing problems in implementing this,” Cr Hill said. “I will hold you (council staff) to September 1.”
Under the on-call system, the council believes service will improve for householders, improve kerbside appeal, increase recovery and reduce costs.
As well as the benefit of a reduction in transportation costs, the on-call collection will put less pressure on the waste transfer stations where minimal space is available for bulky items.
Bookings will be grouped in geographical locations, with council staff suggesting council divisions as the most logical groups.
The services will be available to residents in each division on a fortnightly quota basis with collections allocated to the next day available. Residents will only be able to claim one pickup a year.
Cr Sue Blom welcomed the change, and said she had been concerned in the past that people would often enter her property to rummage through the waste before collection.
“This is a terrific outcome for the people I have spoken to. My thought is if it works, it should be great,” she said.
Waste accepted in the kerbside waste collection is expected to remain the same this year with a limit of two-metres cubed per collection, the ability to load by two people by hand, no hazardous or dangerous waste, no liquid or food waste, and no green waste.
“In the past people have complained about kerbside waste sitting on footpaths for weeks but this new system will give residents set collection dates for their area,” Cr Hill said.
“The booking system will also cut truck movements across Townsville.”
The kerbside waste collection program is expected to start on September 1, with bookings to be available online and over the phone.