Council to investigate feasibility of weekly red bin collection

Red bin collection moved from a weekly schedule to fortnightly in 2023.

The report is to be presented to council no later than the November council meeting.

The report will include estimated annual costs, impact on the budget and service charges to ratepayers, implications for the current contract, potential time frames for the return, environmental and resource recovery impacts and potential alternative service delivery models.

Cr Eddy noted that following a policy announcement from the Coalition ahead of the November state election, there was a real possibility that weekly pick-ups would be required.

Cr Eddy said this report was an opportunity to “get ahead of the issue and understand where we stand”.

Cr Sam Spinks said it was ridiculous for the government to dictate council actions and that the return of red bins would be “going back to the start”.

Cr Spinks said households already had the option to take on a second red bin at their own cost and that “ratepayers shouldn’t bear the cost of individual decisions”.

Cr Geoff Akers said he believed the community had not been properly informed about council’s waste management decisions and that the report would help explain the issue to the public.

Cr Rod Schubert acknowledged that waste management was an area of concern for the community and said “at the end of the day, we have to listen to ratepayers”.