Due to the success of the initial kerbside organic service in 2014 to residential areas in our four main towns, Council gave the green light to expand the service shire-wide at the June ordinary meeting.
Mayor Libro Mustica said this expansion would take place in two key stages. "In the first stage, the un-serviced areas of Cobram, Numurkah and Yarrawonga plus the township of Tungamah will receive the service from the start of September," Cr Mustica said.
"In the second stage, the townships of Barmah, Bundalong, Katamatite, Katunga, Picola, St James, Strathmerton, Waaia, Wilby, Wunghnu and Yarroweyah will receive the service from the start of October." Cr Mustica said the success of the initial roll out into the four main towns was directly attributable to the dedication of residents who embraced this organic waste service. "We have set a new industry benchmark in low contamination rates, with less than 1% of our organic waste registering contamination – we are the best in the state," he said.
"Since 2014 we have diverted 5,500 tonnes of waste from our landfill site and converted 11,500 tonnes of organic material into compost." He said unlike green waste services available in other shires, the Kerbside Organic Waste service would allow residents to dispose of a much wider range of waste. "Waste items such as food scraps including meat, bones and other animal products, leaves, bark weeds and grass clippings, small prunings and branches, saw dust from untreated timber as well as animal droppings and manure can all be put into our organic waste bin," Cr Mustica said.
"Residents will receive a 240 litre wheelie bin, an 8 litre kitchen caddie and a roll of compostable bags approximately two weeks before the first kerbside pickup. "Our collection service will empty your organics wheelie bin each fortnight and we will provide a new supply of bags each year.
"The kitchen caddie and bags allow you to conveniently and cleanly collect kitchen food scraps and dispose of them in the wheelie bin.
"Other waste such as garden waste and animal droppings can be disposed of directly into the wheelie bin.
"While this new service will be an extra cost to residents the amount equates to less than $2 per week."
Cr Mustica said residents would be provided with a range of information and education resources in coming months to make the transition to the new service as easy as possible.
