Waste voucher trial extended

Tamworth Regional Council is constantly exploring ways for the Region to become more environmentally sustainable and has decided to extend its Domestic Waste Voucher Trial until June 2021.

The Domestic Waste Voucher trial - which started in November 2018 and was to end in July 2019 - , was initiated by Council to reduce landfill, following concerns about the amount of recyclable household goods ending up in landfill through the current Bulky Household Waste Collection. 

Waste delivered under the Domestic Waste Voucher system is sorted to improve resource recovery.

Tamworth Regional Council Director of Water and Waste Bruce Logan said the results of the trial to date have been positive, but the execution process will undergo some refining to enhance the benefits for all eligible residents.

“Over the course of the trial, Council received feedback that has been considered when drafting the recommended extension of the trial,” he said.

Mr Logan said some of the feedback provided to Council included accessibility issues for tenants of rental properties and new homeowners as well as the disposal of the vouchers by residents who were unaware that they were included with the annual rates notice.

Following Council’s endorsement of the trial extension, vouchers will now be issued directly to all eligible properties rather than to the property owners every July and February rather that at the one time. The vouchers will also be issued separately to the rates notice with Council investigating ways to ensure the vouchers are more recognisable to users.

“While the changed practices don’t immediately address all areas, it will improve the roll out of the service over the trial period while we continue to explore other options to maximise sustainable practice and the benefits of the Domestic Waste Voucher system,” added Mr Logan.

The trial has, and will continue, to inform Council during deliberations with regard to whether the Bulky Household Waste Collection will remain in the next 10-year Waste Collection contract, which will be renewed in June 2021.

The extension of the trial is estimated to cost $58,500 per year and will be sourced from Council’s Waste Reserve.

Only properties that have Domestic Waste Management Service Charges applied and that receive a kerbside collection are eligible for vouchers.

The extended trial will continue to run in parallel to the Bulky Household Waste Collection as required under the current waste contract.

For more information on waste management and sustainability in the Tamworth Region visit our website.