Goss seeks report on hard rubbish

More than 10 years after Baw Baw Shire axed its kerbside hard waste collection, a councillor has called for a report to investigate a return of the service.

Newly elected councillor Danny Goss moved a notice of motion calling on council officers to prepare a report looking at the possible reintroduction of a hard rubbish collection.

He asked for the report to include why the service was discontinued, issues around reintroduction, costs and any other issue that may be relevant.

Cr Goss asked for the report to be presented to council’s next meeting on February 8. A former council decided in 2005 to axe the service.

The current arrangements, which include hard waste vouchers or a paid pick up service, have been in place since June 2007.

Cr Goss said his motion was calling for a report, not necessarily reintroduction of the service.

He said kerbside hard rubbish collection was a service provided in the past and was still available to residents in a limited capacity.

“If we can provide the service and it’s affordable, then we should be providing it.

“Council is a service industry. I want to see a report on the costs, the benefits and the disadvantages.

Cr Goss said if there was a cost involved council would have to find the money to bring the service back. “But to make those decisions we need the facts,” he said.

Cr Michael Leaney said he wanted to know the background and what can and can’t be achieved with the service.

Cr Peter Kostos said he was on the previous council that introduced the voucher system.

He said it was quite a cost to council to provide the service and it would return as a cost.

Cr Kostos said one of the reasons council stopped the service was the rubbish that mounted on kerbsides for weeks during the collection period.

“I travel through other shires and see rubbish sitting there for weeks,” he said.

The report to council in 2005 said the manual handling, collection, transport and unloading of hazardous waste were issues.

Residents can now dispose of hard waste up to four times a year through council’s hard waste service.

Ratepayers receive two hard waste vouchers included with their annual rate notice. These vouchers are for the free disposal of up to two cubic metres of hard waste at council operated transfer stations. Alternatively, residents can pay for a kerbside hard waste collection.

Residents (not commercial properties) that receive a kerbside rubbish collection are eligible to receive a hard waste pick up during the months of October-November and MarchApril for a fee of $62 or $30 for pensioners.