The City of Greater Bendigo is inviting over 4,900 households in Flora Hill, Kennington and Axedale to participate in a three month Reuse and Recycle Home Collection trial from Monday June 17, 2019 until Friday September 13, 2019.
Items that can be disposed of through the trial include unwanted furniture, white goods such as refrigerators, washing machines and dryers and e-waste. Items that cannot be disposed of through the trial include tyres, liquid of any form, asbestos, general municipal waste and green waste.
City of Greater Bendigo Waste, Resource Recovery and Education Manager Brooke Pearce said households within the trial area will be eligible for one free collection of certain unwanted re-useable or recyclable household items simply by contacting the City to book a collection service during the trial period.
"The City has sent a letter, some frequently asked questions and a brochure detailing how to book a collection, what can and cannot be disposed of through the trial and where and how they must store the items that they want collected," Ms Pearce said.
"Council has received plenty of comments about illegal dumping and the need for a hard waste collection service. After considering this feedback from community members, Council has committed to undertake the trial.
"Flora Hill and Kennington were chosen because they are close to the Strathfieldsaye Transfer Station while Axedale was selected because it is close to the Heathcote Transfer Station. Both Flora Hill and Kennington are also close to One Tree Hill where significant illegal dumping takes place.
"The City will closely monitor the trial and households within the trial area will be contacted to participate in a survey about their experience with the trial service.
"Results from the trial will help Council to determine whether such a service could be introduced at a cost to the householder throughout the municipality in the future. Therefore the participating households will play a very important role in determining the future of a possible Reuse and Recycle Home Collection service for the wider municipality."
