LAKE Macquarie City Council says it expects most properties will have room for a third bin, despite concerns that some households will not have enough space.
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The council suggested people could place their bin ‘‘in the back garden, at the side of the house or in the garage’’.
The roll-out of a green-waste bin will begin in Lake Macquarie from today.
As reported last Thursday, the council will deliver 72,000 new bins over two months.
Cardiff residents will be the first to receive the new 240-litre green-waste bins.
The council said it wanted every household to have a third bin.
‘‘The more the new service is used correctly, the greater the cost savings and environmental benefits that can be achieved,’’ it said.
Most properties would receive a green-waste bin, but if residents ‘‘demonstrate they have no need for the service, they can ask for their bin to be removed’’.
‘‘In future years, when food waste is able to be put in the green-waste bin, council will reissue a green-waste bin to property owners who have elected not to have one in this roll-out.’’
The council said residents would have to pay for a third bin, even if they declined one.
Q & A with Lake Macquarie City Council
Q - Regarding the third bin, must residents accept a new bin, even if they don’t want one?
A - Throughout extensive consultation with the community in 2010, residents told us that they preferred to move to a three-bin system for waste because it is the most convenient and the option with the lowest cost.
Waste audits indicate that residential garbage bins typically contain 22% green waste and 28% food waste. During Phase 1, the green bin is for garden waste only, with food waste to be introduced in the future.
Most properties will receive a green-waste bin to begin with. If they can demonstrate that they have no need for the service they can ask for their green-waste bin to be removed.
In future years, when food waste is able to be put in the green-waste bin, council will reissue a green waste bin to the owners of properties who have elected not to have one in this rollout.
Q - Will residents have to pay for a third bin, even if they don’t use it?
A - To keep the waste service affordable for everyone, the domestic waste management charge, which covers the garbage, recycling and green-waste services, is charged to every rateable property in the city. However we expect that, even with the extra service, the domestic waste management charge next year will not increase when compared to this year.
Q - Does council want everyone to have a third bin? Why?
A - Yes it does. As mentioned above, 50% of waste in the average garbage bin is garden and food waste. A further 9% is other compostable material and citywide waste audits indicate there are fewer than 1% of households that have no green waste in their garbage bin. The more the new service is used correctly, the greater the cost savings and environmental benefits that can be achieved.
Our only landfill at Awaba is filling up and these valuable organic resources can be diverted for beneficial reuse as high-grade mulch and compost. When placed in landfill, organic matter releases methane, which is a harmful greenhouse gas. Composting green waste does not create methane, making an important contribution to reducing emissions. It also lowers the cost of landfill by reducing the city’s liability under the federal government’s carbon pricing mechanism and the NSW waste levy.
Q - What advice does council have for people who are concerned about not having enough space for a third bin?
A - Council expects that most properties will have room for the third bin. Some people in strata-titled units may prefer to share or downsize their bins, and council has developed waste packages to suit strata complexes with three or more units. Once the service is stable, bin options (upsizing and downsizing) will also be made available to residents.
In other councils where green-waste services are provided, people place their bin where it is most convenient or easiest to use e.g. in the back garden, at the side of the house, or in the garage.
Q - What does the council say to residents who say they already compost or use worm farms for organic waste?
A - Home composting is an excellent way to generate fertiliser for the backyard. As part of development of the current waste strategy, council conducted an extensive compost trial to determine the effectiveness of home composting in diverting green waste from landfill. This trial found that although 45% of households compost at home, their bins still contained 49% green waste. Citywide waste audits show that less than 1% of households have no green waste in their bins.
In addition, there are substantial benefits to having a green-waste bin for those who compost at home. For example, the new green-waste bin is able to take all types of garden waste, including weeds and leaf litter. The green waste bin provides a convenient extra way to manage green waste. One of the primary reasons residents state for not composting at home is that they generate more compost than they can use. A third bin can take overflow green waste and may even encourage more people back to composting at home.
Q - Is council anticipating many concerns or complaints from residents about the third bin?
A - During our consultation in 2010, residents told us that a three-bin system was their preferred waste solution. Feedback received since then indicates that most residents are looking forward to introduction of the green-waste bin, and appreciate the opportunity to minimise their waste to landfill in a convenient way.
Q - What’s the situation with apartments? Will they get a third bin?
A - Strata complexes with three or more units have been offered a range of waste packages to meet their needs, including shared and downsized bins. Most complexes have chosen the standard service, which is three 240-litre bins per unit (i.e. one garbage, one recycling and one green bin).
Q - Is there anything else you would like to add about the new third bin service?
A - Waste management is an issue that affects everybody. Council has actively sought to engage the Lake Macquarie community in its decision about the city’s future waste strategy. Our community indicated strong support for a three-bin system, which the elected council adopted in February 2011.
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