Golden Plains Shire seeking input on how to skip the tip

FOOD scraps in green waste bins could be on the cards for some residents in Gold Plains Shire as the municipality looks to revamp its approach to waste management.

The proposal is just one of many options on how the Shire might approach rubbish, recycling and green waste after 2022.

“As the population of Golden Plain Shire increases, so does the amount of waste generated in our municipality,” said Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey. “It’s in everyone’s interests to make sure we have reliable, cost-effective and sustainable waste management in Golden Plains, and that means reducing the waste we put in the ground.”

In 2014 the Shire had one of the worst records for diverting waste from landfill, with just 23 per cent of material that could have gone other places ending up in the tip.

Changes made a year later, including the addition of fortnightly recycling and green waste collections, got the diversion rate up to 38 per cent, but that’s still below the statewide average of 46 per cent.

“The war on waste is a headlining news story and many Australians are taking important measures in their everyday lives to make a positive difference on this serious environmental issue,” Cr Sharkey said.

“We understand and appreciate that solving the problem begins at home, and that what we do in our own backyard matters.”

One of the reasons behind the suggestion of a mixed green waste – things like lawn clippings and garden off cuts, with food scraps is due in part to the volume food waste contributes to the overall volume going into land fill.

Forty-eight per cent of all rubbish destined for the tip is made up of such material.

“Our neighbouring municipalities have garden and food waste services and we want to give Golden Plains Shire residents the same opportunity to consider if they support these options for our future waste management,” Cr Sharkey said.

In the lead up to council’s decision on waste management, the municipality is running a lengthy community consultation process.

That includes four face-to-face community feedback sessions in Meredith, Bannockburn, Rokewood and Smythesdale as well as and waste workshop focus group and an online survey.

“Council has done the research and painted a clear picture of four new waste collection services for our Shire and now, most importantly, we need to know what the community wants,” Cr Sharkey said.

To have your say on the future of waste management in the Shire visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations.