Changes to waste collection in Somerset
Dealing with waste throughout Somerset will change during the 2022/2023 financial year with the introduction of kerbside recycling as a standard for all serviced properties and upgrading all 140 litre waste bins to 240 litres. Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann said, “Residents and businesses with a 240 litre waste bin service will receive an additional yellow lid recycle bin that will be emptied fortnightly. This service is being introduced in response to demand from residents and to reduce the amount of rubbish being put into our landfill.”
“Residents and businesses with a 140 litre waste bin service will have that bin replaced with a 240 litre waste bin in order to complete the standardisation of kerbside waste services throughout Somerset. Every cubic metre of space taken up in our landfill reduces the life of the landfill. While we are fortunate to have Australian Government funding support under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program for the $1.3 million construction of the new Esk landfill cell this year, and there is no guarantee that we will be able to attract government funding for future upgrades.”
“If we can reduce the cubic metres of landfill waste by 30% through increasing kerbside recycling then we can delay the cost of future waste infrastructure upgrades. There is significant uncertainty about the future of the State Government waste levy which has also played a part in Council’s thought processes about our waste contracts over the past year.”
“The new seven-year waste contract is with Ipswich City Council’s Waste Services unit. Ipswich Waste was appointed following an exhaustive competitive process which was overseen by independent consultants, Peak Services. We thank Cleanaway for their efforts in providing kerbside and other waste services over many years in the northern part of our region.”
“There will be an additional cost for these new services of less than $1 per week per household and we will work hard on sticking to our affordable rates effective services slogan as part of our budget deliberations for 2022/2023. This will include looking for further savings like we have in energy, telecommunications, insurance, investments and other areas over the past 18 months.”
Council will release more detailed information about the new changes over coming months about the delivery of new bins, collection dates and other matters.
