Charity bins become eyesore

By Helen Tatchell

All too often this photo depicts the site that greets visitors from the southern entrance to Bacchus Marsh.
The three Enviro Recycling bins are situated on Grant street directly outside Maddingley Park oval and opposite the Bacchus Marsh College.
Has it become a dumping ground or is it genuinely a drop off point for useable goods?
John from Enviro Recycling returned a call to the Moorabool News and said January was a terrible month.
“Every year in January we have this problem. We used to empty the bins once a week, but now with new measures in place we will be trying to manage the emptying of the bins twice a week on our run from Melbourne to Ballarat,” he said
Monday and Friday are the scheduled days for collection.
“We may also be updating these old looking bins, as they have a fair bit of graffiti on them, with new ones,” John said.
Inside the bins John said is “usually beautiful stuff in the bags for charities.”
“Ninety per cent of items are usable to be recycled. Some people are very good but unfortunately a few dump broken items, and yes it does not look nice for the area,” he said.
A Vicroads spokesperson told the Moorabool News their responsibilities only extend from kerb-to-kerb.
“This is located in an urban area therefore the land these bins are located on is the responsibility of Moorabool Shire Council,” the spokesperson said.
Council responded with General Manager Growth and Development Satwinder Sandhu saying Council liaises with charity bin providers to ensure sites around their bins are kept clean and clear of items.
“We have recently contacted the providers of the bins in Grant St, Bacchus Marsh, regarding cleaning up around the bins.”
Mr Sandhu said they implore community members who want to drop goods off at these bins not to leave a mess.
“If an item is too big to put in a bin, please go into an op shop to donate or, if it’s not suitable to donate, take it to a transfer station. Please do not create or add to any mess around charity bins.”
**At the time of going to print the three bins had been emptied, although rubbish was already piling up around the outside, ready for another collection.