Waste Management Services in Bland Shire: What You Need to Know
Recently, Bland Shire Council issued an important update regarding the challenges of waste collection in the area, specifically the difficulty our garbage trucks face when trying to collect overfilled bins. Overflowing bins often spill waste into the streets and watercourses, leading to pollution and environmental concerns. This message sparked a productive conversation among residents, with many asking why the Shire doesn't offer additional bin collections or roadside recycling services.
The Council's goal is to deliver the best possible service to ratepayers at an affordable cost, especially in the current economic climate. While we acknowledge that waste management solutions can always be improved, increasing service levels—such as adding more frequent collections or offering a second bin service—would unfortunately come with significant increased costs. While some residents may need or want additional waste collection, Council believes that the majority of ratepayers would not be willing to bear the extra cost required to support such services for a relatively small number of residents.
Second Bin Service: If you require an extra bin collection, Bland Shire Council offers a second bin and weekly collection service for an additional cost of $510 per year for a 240-litre bin or $403 per year for a 120-litre bin. This option allows households to manage higher waste volumes, but it's important to note that it is only available at this extra charge.
Cost of Expanding Services: A second collection service for the entire Bland Shire would involve significant additional costs, including the need for extra garbage trucks, additional staff, and increased infrastructure. Based on these factors, introducing a second weekly collection service across the whole Shire would result in a substantial rate increase for all ratepayers. As such, the Council has opted to focus on balancing affordability with service quality.
Recycling in Bland Shire
Recycling is another topic that has generated much discussion over the years. Bland Shire Council has explored multiple options for roadside recycling, but due to the distance to recycling facilities in the Riverina, a kerb-side service is currently not feasible. However, we are fortunate to have local recycling options in the region:
- Kurrajong Waratah (Compton Road) recycles cardboard and paper at no cost to the community.
- V&L Machinery (also on Compton Road) accepts bottles and cans and even pays you for your recyclables.
- West Wyalong Landfill offers free recycling services through our EPA sponsored Community Recycling Centre for all plastics, glass, metal waste, e-waste, batteries, phones and accessories, light globes (inc. Fluorescent), whitegoods, all paints and household chemicals. Council also accepts reusable goods in good condition, such as furniture, books etc. for re-sale in our re-use shop. These items need to be sorted accordingly before they are taken to the Landfill.
These local recycling initiatives play a key role in reducing waste and encouraging recycling within the Shire, and we encourage residents to take advantage of these facilities.
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