Recycling trial costs more, but no levy increase

A PLAN to bring the sorting of recyclables back under the control of the City of Ballarat will cost more than what was paid to the previous service provider but will not be directly passed onto rate payers.

The announcement came following claims by State opposition leader, Michael O’Brien, that the City’s trail plan for recyclables could cost $2 million and add about $45 to residents’ rates.

“City of Ballarat’s interim recycling plan does cost council more than it was paying contractor SKM to deal with its recyclables,” said Mayor, Cr Samantha McIntosh.

“However, this additional cost for the trial will not be passed on to ratepayers. There will not be any increase in the waste levy paid by residents due to this trial. The important goal of this trial is to keep recyclables out of landfill.”

Ms McIntosh said that the current trail of sorting recyclables at a facility in Wendouree could cost up to $3 million a year, but there were currently no firm plans to stick with that course of action.

“This trial is a short-term fix, not a long-term solution,” she said. “Council will continue to look at all alternatives to maintain a recycling service for Ballarat. We do not want our recyclables going to landfill.”

The trial sorting site, located just off Coronet Street, is a partnership between a number of players in the space, including Kevin Clark Pty Ltd, Vic Waste Solutions, Ballarat Regional Industries, Suez and the municipality.

Ms McIntosh said the City would seek to access recently announced funding streams by both the State and Federal governments to help pay for future recycling services.

“In the short-term, this cost will be absorbed by council as we continue to explore every available avenue to secure funding from the state government,” she said.

“Council welcomes yesterday’s announcements made by the State and Federal governments relating to recycling and waste management. We are carefully scrutinising each announcement to see what assistance and support could be provided to Ballarat as we seek to find an innovative and pro-active approach to current recycling and waste issues.”

Ms McIntosh said the municipality knew recycling was going to “become a major issue” some years ago and had begun a process of developing policies and solutions to deal with the challenge.

They included an all-waste interchange, a recovery facility and a waste to energy site.

“However, to date, attempts to secure government funding, including access to the Sustainability Fund to support these initiatives have been unsuccessful,” Ms McIntosh said. “Council has committed $5 million of its own money toward an all-waste interchange.”