Cost verses frequency: feedback sought on bin options

THE City of Ballarat have announced rubbish disposal options for future kerbside waste and glass collection and are now seeking community input into which choice to select.

There are three options for general waste and the new food organics and garden organics, also known as FOGO, services.

Weekly collection of both options is the most expensive choice, costing rate payers an extra $45 a year and reducing carbon emissions by 4000 tonnes.

Fortnightly collection of FOGO and weekly collection of household waste will cost an extra $30 per year and will reduce carbon emissions by 2000 tonnes.

Weekly FOGO and fortnightly household waste will be the cheapest option, with a $16 increase to ratepayers. It will also reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 5000 tonnes, the most of the three options.

Les Stokes, executive manager of waste and the environment at the City of Ballarat, said the new FOGO bins will require some changes within homes as 42 per cent of rubbish which currently goes in general waste is food organics.

He said that households would need to consider how they will collect their food waste within the home and if this will impact how often the general waste bin needs to be collected.

There are a further two options for glass recycling of monthly or fortnightly collection from a purple lidded bin residents are asking to input on.

Monthly glass collection will cost an extra $10 per year for ratepayers whereas fortnightly collection will cost an extra $17.

There are no changes to current yellow lid recycling.

“The response of the survey along with considerations of environmental impacts and costs, and the State Government’s service standards which will come out mid-year, will provide guidance to the council on how the services will be delivered,” said Mr Stokes.

The decision will be made by the council late this year however it is unknown when the changes will be implemented.

The State Government has mandated the glass bin to be implemented by 2027 and the FOGO bin by 2030 however Mr Stokes said the City of Ballarat staff are aiming to get the services up and running sooner.

He urged the community to have their say.

“Every household is a little bit different, and we really want to hear from everyone and how they would use the services so the council can make an informed decision,” he said.