STATE opposition leader, Michael O\u2019Brien, has said that yesterday\u2019s announcement by the City of Ballarat that it would manage its own recycling sorting will cost the municipality two-million dollars a year.<\/p>\n
The claim comes after the city\u2019s Director of Infrastructure and Environment, Terry Demeo, said that a sorting facility in Wendouree would be pressed back into action following the demise of provider SKM.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Brien said the move would add a significant cost to the city\u2019s rate payers and laid the blame at the feet of the State government.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat city council is going to have to charge rate payers an extra $2 million because the State government in Spring Street has stuffed up recycling,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely not fair, Ballarat city council has done nothing wrong, Ballarat families have done nothing wrong, but they are going to be paying an extra $41 through their rates.\u201d<\/p>\n
Municipal curb side recycling services have faced many challenges following a decision by China\u2019s government in 2018 to no longer accept anything but clean and highly processed waste material.<\/p>\n
That move had knock on effects to recycling streams across the globe and ultimately resulted in the demise of major industry player in Victoria, SKM.<\/p>\n
Yesterday the State government announced a $11.3 million plan, with $6.6 million available over the next four months, to help 33 local governments deal with the fall out and try and divert recyclable materials from ending up in landfill.<\/p>\n
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said the State government had \u201cacted quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThose living in the Ballarat region will be pleased to know that the Andrews Government has acted quickly to ensure our recyclable materials don\u2019t end up as landfill,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are seeking greater transparency from councils in regards to waste management to ensure the best economic and environmental outcomes for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Mr O\u2019Brien said that the $6.6 million would not be enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know the cost for Ballarat alone is $2 million,\u201d he said. \u201cWhy is it fair for councils who haven\u2019t done the wrong thing and families who haven\u2019t done the wrong thing to have to pay through the nose?\u201d<\/p>\n
The $2 million claim comes after the City of Ballarat yesterday announced a recycling sorting facility in Wendouree would be reactivated.<\/p>\n
The site is a partnership between Vic Waste Solutions, council and disability job provider Ballarat Regional Industries.<\/p>\n
Mr Demeo said the sorting space, just off Coronet Street would be \u201ckicked into place\u201d on Monday, receiving curb side collections directly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a belt where we\u2019ve got some mechanical sorting taking out aluminium at the front end, and some pretty rudimentary sorting with employees up on the belt taking out useful plastics, cardboard and paper that is readily marketable domestically,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re doing to try and ensure we\u2019re getting whatever\u2019s useful out of the recycling bins and not require it to go to landfill. We\u2019ll do this as long as it\u2019s pragmatic to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Ballarat has been contacted for a response to Mr O’Brien’s claims.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
STATE opposition leader, Michael O\u2019Brien, has said that yesterday\u2019s announcement by the City of Ballarat that it would manage its own recycling sorting will cost the municipality two-million dollars a year. The claim comes after the city\u2019s Director of Infrastructure and Environment, Terry Demeo, said that a sorting facility in Wendouree would be pressed back […]<\/p>\n