Colac Otway wants feedback on rubbish

THE Colac Otway Shire is encouraging the community to have their say on how they would like waste services to be provided in coming years.

In an effort to ensure the shire’s future waste management services meet the needs of the community, the council has created a questionnaire seeking input from the public on general waste, recycling and organics collection at homes, towns and businesses across the municipality.

The shire presently collects waste weekly, and recycling and green waste fortnightly.

Colac Otway waste management officer Simone Robertson said the council’s existing waste services contract ended in late 2020 and the shire was working towards ensuring the next contract was based on community needs and expectation.

“While there is more than two years until the contract is renewed, it’s important we have the discussion up-front with our community to understand what areas of waste collection Council could improve or where we currently have it right.

“Waste collection costs ratepayers a significant amount of money annually ($3.4 million in the 2016/17 financial year), so it’s essential the service we’re providing meets the needs of our community.

“The data we hope to capture from this community survey is really going to inform Council’s decision-making as the current waste contract comes to an end.”

The online survey can be completed at surveymonkey.com/r/talkrubbish.

For more information about the Colac Otway Shire’s existing waste services, head to colacotway.vic.gov.au.