Colac Otway secures temporary recycling arrangement

Published on 30 July 2019

Colac Otway secures temporary recycling arrangement

Colac Otway Shire’s kerbside collection service is operating as normal, with recyclable material being collected and recycled through an alternative operator, while SKM remains closed.

Colac Otway Shire Council’s kerbside waste collection contractor Wheelie Waste has secured an alternative arrangement through its recycling contractor, which enables Council to avoid sending recyclable material to landfill.

Council’s Infrastructure and Leisure Services General Manager Tony McGann said waste contractor Wheelie Waste had been able to negotiate an arrangement to take recyclable material to its recycling contractor Visy.

“Our community is fortunate that Wheelie Waste has been willing to make this arrangement on Council’s behalf and we have been able to avoid sending thousands of tonnes of recyclable material to landfill.

“This temporary arrangement will cost more than our contract price with SKM but less than the financial cost and the environmental cost of sending recyclable material to landfill.

“We are yet to receive further advice from SKM since it notified Council last week of its decision to close its Geelong site.

“The really important message for our community is that we must all reduce our waste if possible and we must separate our recycling carefully to avoid any contamination.

“We all contribute to waste issues and we all need to take responsibility for helping to reduce, reuse and recycle.

“Buying products with less packaging and making sure you know what you can recycle is a great place to start.

“Barwon South West Waste and Resource Recovery Group is working with Councils across Victoria, including Colac Otway Shire, to explore long term solutions for recycling and reducing waste going to landfill.”