Boost to public rubbish collections

December 17, 2020 BY James Taylor

Overflowing public rubbish bins are sometimes spotted in the Surf Coast Shire during holiday periods, including Christmas and Easter.

THE Surf Coast Shire council is increasing the frequency of its public bin collections from now until Easter to cater for more locals and visitors using expanded outdoor eating and drinking areas.

The higher rubbish collection rates, made possible due to a state government Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package grant, will help prevent bin overloading and ensure popular areas are kept as clean and inviting as possible.

Many restaurants, cafes and bars in the shire have extended their outdoor dining areas this summer to be more COVIDSafe.

Consumption of takeaway food and drink in association with outdoor dining is also expected to increase due to continuing indoor seating limits.

The council normally increases public bin collections from one to two a day between Christmas Day and January 31.

The new arrangement means twice-daily servicing seven days of the week will also occur from now until December 24, and from February 1 to March 31.

The increased service will be shire-wide, wherever there are public bins on council land.

“We expect to have some very busy times ahead with people making the most of local travel and enjoying our public spaces in the sunshine,” deputy mayor Liz Pattison said.

“We thank the Victorian Government for the ability to support our local businesses providing expanded outdoor dining services, and to manage the anticipated increase in waste from takeaway food and drink.

“Our hospitality operators have been hit hard by the pandemic, with some unable to trade, others offering very limited service and many receiving less than 30 per cent of usual income.

“We encourage people to get out and spend with our local businesses and we also appeal to people to take care with their waste disposal and help keep our public areas tidy for everyone’s enjoyment.”

Under the council’s Fresh Air Dining Program, 33 businesses have received approvals for extended outdoor dining and many more applications are being considered.

For more details on the Fresh Air Dining program, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au.

For a shire-wide map of outdoor dining venues and other local businesses, head to buysurfcoast.com.au.