Agenda item

Waste Policy Review

Minutes:

SUMMARY

On 8 August 2023, Council resolved to adopt a Resource Recovery and Waste Services Policy with an informal review to occur at six months. A key aim of the Policy is to meet State legislated environmental targets, principally related to landfill diversion.

The approach underpinning improving diversion rates is through a combination of increasing waste segregation and recycling options, whilst simultaneously decreasing landfill disposal.

The review commenced in October 2023 to align with changes to service delivery has been informed by six months of data, as well as feedback from the community. Data from the six months was then compiled and reviewed in April/May to inform the review.

To review the outcomes of the new service, Council:

·                Monitored and investigated customer feedback, through requests, complaints, petitions, submissions, presentations to Council and broader sentiment shared on social media.

·                Investigated bin capacity and contamination, including through physical audits of each bin stream.

·                Monitored the volume changes of all waste streams.

The service review is contained in Attachment 1.

In summary, the first six-months of the Yarra Ranges service has shown that:

·                Material progress toward State legislated targets has occurred with diversion of waste from landfill across all collection streams increasing from 46% to 73%, just below the 75% Council target for 2025.

o      Contamination rates of Food Organics and Green Organics (FOGO) bins are 0.49%.

o      Diverting waste from landfill to composting has avoided more than 3,127 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

o      An additional 9,037 tonnes of organic material have been composted into usable products.

·                During the transition period of June 2023 to February 2024, there was significant resistance to the services changes, particularly regarding the shift to fortnightly rubbish collections and the introduction of the universal FOGO bin.

·                There has been no noticeable increase in dumped rubbish activity or increase in volumes within our street and park litterbin collections.

·                The main residual requests following the transition period relate to opting out of the FOGO service and a return to weekly rubbish collection (particularly coming from households with a higher number of occupants as well as households with children in nappies).

·                Other than FOGO liner requests, the average number of customer waste requests has reduced close to pre-transition levels.

·                The service, in its current form and based on evidence of data, is functioning effectively for the large part of the community.

On balance of impact and outcome, this report recommends expanding bin size choice for community and prioritising behaviour change efforts for those facing difficulties in adjusting to the new services.

In addition, it recommends delaying the rollout of a glass service from 1 July 2025 to commence on 1 July 2026 (2026-2027 Financial year), based on:

·                Assisting the community with current cost-of-living pressures.

·                Enabling a stronger focus on the recent service changes (Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service and reduced rubbish collection frequency).

·                Providing an opportunity to assess the impact of the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) on the glass collection service.

In accordance with Governance Rule 29.1, Cr Skelton, Cr McAllister,
Cr Heenan, Cr Higgins and Cr Child spoke to the Motion.

The recommendation was moved and seconded.

Cr McAllister moved, and Cr Heenan seconded, an amendment to the recommendation and sought the agreement of the original mover and seconder to add wording as follows:

8.         To undertake further consultation with non-residential properties to work to resolve current waste service challenges they are experiencing.

The mover and seconder supported the proposed amendment. 

The Deputy Mayor called for the meeting to be adjourned at 7.24pm to enable the clarification of the Governance Rules in respect to Moving an Amendment.

The meeting resumed at 7.25pm with all Councillors present and consideration of item 10.1 continued.

Cr Heenan moved, and Cr Higgins seconded, a further amendment to the recommendation and sought the agreement of the original mover and seconder to add wording as follows to point 2:

as soon as possible.

The mover and seconder supported the proposed amendment. 

 

Moved: Cr Skelton
Seconded: Cr Child

That Council

1.         Notes the findings and recommendations of the six-month review.

2.         Maintains the fortnightly rubbish collection frequency and though contract variation discussions progress the provision of additional bin size options for each waste stream as soon as possible.

3.         Progress investigations for alternative options for Multi-Unit Developments with limited storage space, including shared user arrangements and/or 240L bins.

4.         Endorse a deferral of the Glass Collection service to commence in July 2026.

5.         Hold consideration of an individual property opt-out option for FOGO for properties that have systems in place to manage FOGO on the property until state service standards for municipal collections are finalised.

6.         Support the extension of the reusable nappy workshop program for a further 12 months.

7.         Advocates to the Government for improved outcomes for managing soft plastics.

8.         To undertake further consultation with non-residential properties to work to resolve current waste service challenges they are experiencing.

The motion was Carried unanimously.

In Favour:   Cr Heenan, Cr Eastham, Cr Higgins, Cr Skelton, Cr Child and
Cr McAllister.

Against:       Nil

Supporting documents: