New bins keep three-quarters of shire’s waste out of landfill

THE Surf Coast Shire’s new food organics collection and a fourth bin for glass is diverting nearly three quarters (74 per cent) of waste and recyclables from landfill.

According to data from February to June revealed by the shire last week, the diversion rate is about 20 per cent up on the same period last year.

Waste going to landfill dropped 1,744 tonnes, or 39 per cent, meaning waste going to landfill from the kerbside system is less than it was in 2005 despite significant residential growth since then.

From February to June, the new shire-wide food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection accumulated 3121 tonnes for transforming into compost, up 37 per cent on previous garden organics-only collection.

The new purple lid fourth bins collected 694 tonnes of glass for recycling into a sand replacement product reducing the need for quarried sand.

Overall responses to the shire’s community survey put approval of the new systems at 3.9 out of 5, with 72.5 per cent of people very satisfied or satisfied and only 17.5 per cent unsatisfied.

Rural respondents rated the service highly at 3.5 out of 5, having adjusted to receiving two new bins to bring them into line with urban properties.

Cr Mike Bodsworth said the diversion rate and survey findings combined was a strong endorsement of the changes.

“That diversion figure of 74 per cent puts us up with the best among Victorian councils,” Cr Bodsworth said.

“We would not have been able to reach that point without such strong support from our community in adapting to significant changes of habit.

“Council is proud to have acted ahead of the curve on these reforms, which will be standardised across the state by the Victorian Government in coming years.

“We wanted to respond to high community expectations and the results demonstrate how much value people place on diverting from landfill, extracting the best results from recycling and helping to protect our environment. “The life of the Anglesea landfill has been extended by several years, as a bonus. We encourage people to keep up the great work.”

More than 2,000 people responded to the survey.

They rated leading benefits of the new service as:

• Reduces waste to landfill – 79 per cent
• Positive for the environment and future – 73 per cent
• Glass recycled more efficiently -71 per cent
• Households which might not have composted food waste can now do so – 60 per cent.

The new Surf Coast Rubbish and Recycling App, SCRRApp, received a 4.5-star rating from users.

The app has been downloaded more than 6,800 times. About 70 per cent of survey participants said they had downloaded it, and 90 per cent said it helped with their transition to the new service.

The survey also revealed 80 per cent per cent of respondents were using the shire-supplied kitchen caddies for collecting food organics, with 77 per cent using supplied liner bags.

The bags are optional because food organics can go into bins loose. Only shire-supplied or approved bags can be used.

For more information, head to the Surf Coast Shire’s website.