Byron Shire Council has been forced to put on hold the trial of new green waste and food organics kerbside collection owing to the high cost of the tenders it received for it and lack of a government grant to support it.
But mayor Simon Richardson says a full program will go ahead as part of a new integrated waste collection contract in August 2015.
Cr Richardson acknowledged it was disappointing news for many in the community who were looking forward to the new service.
‘It’s a setback but it was also a financially responsible decision and not unlike many decisions made in household budgets.
‘If the price comes in too high to upgrade an item, households are faced with the decision to wait, save more and source a better price. It’s no different for Council,’ he said.
The limited service would have provided the bins to households in urban areas of the shire but not to units or businesses.
But Byron Shire Council’s waste and recycling manager Warren Burgess said the council now plans to roll it out to the whole community, albeit at a later date.
Mr Burgess said Council is currently preparing tender documents for an integrated collection contract, covering all of the shire’s waste collections, which should be awarded in late 2014 or early 2015.
‘It’s anticipated that with a contract of such significant scope, competitive market pressure and economies of scale will also ensure a much better value for money result for Council,’ he said.
Coincidentally, Byron Shire Council became ineligible for the state government’s Waste Less Recycling More funding program following the closure of the Myocum landfill.
Mr Burgess said this funding would have funded the purchase of bins required for the introduction of the service.
‘Council has been lobbying the NSW government for it to be granted an exemption and will continue to actively pursue this avenue for additional funding,’ he said.
In the upcoming months, Cr Richardson said Council was committed to minimising landfill waste and would introduce a number of new recycling initiatives.
‘Over the next six months our shire will have free recycling drop-off stations for problem household materials such as compact fluorescent light globes, household batteries and mobile phones. Plus the Myocum Resource Recovery Facility will be able to take polystyrene packaging for recycling.
‘Also, we will use the delay to work towards developing and incorporating festival, event and commercial organic waste collection. Thus, though the collection will start later, it should reach more people,’ he said.
Meanwhile, the mayor urged residents to continue to be diligent when sorting items for the yellow bin and, if you are unsure, check Council’s website www.byron.nsw.gov.au.
What a major ‘bumma’! This is so overdue, it’s just really disappointing. One of the amazing things that will happen once it’s out is that we can compost some brands of disposable nappies. A radical solution for a real problem. I’ll stop dreaming of what to do with my garden waste until I hear more! sigh
Byron council isn’t anymore a green council, it’s a council that lost its way!!!
Great! Now I not only have to dispose of copious amounts of debris that falls in and around our yard from a Council tree adjoining our property, I won’t even be able to lessen the cost of numerous trips to the tip. At least with a green waste bin, our general garden waste would have been taken care of.
No! they say, we won’t lop our tree, you can deal with it. No! they say, we won’t give you a Green waste bin to help with disposal costs.
Just another example of Council not listening or caring about their ratepayers. That’s O.K. guys. Just sit back and enjoy what I believe are the ludicrous incomes that you receive, for very little productivity.
I think waiting 1 year to get it right at the best price is worth the wait.
Have you considered your own compost bin? I live in a block of units and we have our own compost bins for kitchen scraps and green waste. After 8 weeks we have the best compost around to use ourselves. Just remember 4 parts dry (paper, dry leaves) to 1 part wet (kitchen scraps, green leaves). Best to let lawn clippings compost on the lawn.
MMMmmmm The GREEN Council ?
So many years you advocated GREEN DREAMS!
O Byron How unequivocal you are!!
For all who VOTED for you!!
Build Skyscrapers now!!
The rate-payers are fooled/ populace were FOILED!!
SOLD outa there!!
Dirty place it is now!!
Pollution & human faeces in precinct!!
So sad!!