Outrage after Wellington Shire Council scraps weekly general waste collection, replaces it with organic waste
A controversial council change to replace weekly general waste collection with a food and garden organics (FOGO) service has sparked criticism from residents concerned about their bins being “overflowing”.
Wellington Shire Council in Victoria’s Gippsland has warned residents that new 240-litre FOGO bins will be delivered from July 6, while red-lid general waste bins will switch to a fortnightly collection schedule.
However, the move worried residents, who started a petition on charge.org for weekly general waste collections to continue.
Petition organizer Danielle Azevedo, who has a young family, said bins quickly fill up with nappies so they are dependent on a reliable waste system.
Ms. Azevedo said bin replacement is a common concern that affects many families and individuals in the community.
He said it was crucial that the new system did not compromise regular waste collection and did not create a significant waste management problem for households.
“Failure to maintain weekly bin collection could lead to a variety of negative consequences,” the petition states.
“Overflowing bins can attract pests and vermin, increase unpleasant odors and potentially create a health hazard.
“For families with babies, the elderly or people with disabilities, the amount of waste produced on a weekly basis is not something that can be left uncollected without serious consequences.”
The petition calling on the Shire to adopt a practical solution and maintain the current weekly schedule for general waste as well as the FOGO collection has received more than 1,800 signatures.
Wellington Shire Council Mayor Cindy Madeley said FOGO bins would divert organic waste from landfill and reduce costs under Victorian law.
“In the Wellington Shire, more than half of the average household waste bin consists of food and garden waste, and a further 15 per cent is made up of items put in the recycling bin,” Cr Madeley said.
“By separating these materials, we can significantly reduce landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and turn everyday food scraps into valuable fertilizer that can be used on farms, parks and gardens.”
Ms. Madeley said sending waste to landfill was expensive because the EPA was increasing costs each year.
“Over time it will become more expensive to continue weekly collection of bins,” he said.
“By removing food waste from the landfill, we can extend the life of our existing landfill cells and reduce methane emissions.”
