Good news with recycling processing to restart from Monday

Bin collection company Cleanaway have struck a deal with South Metropolitan Regional Council (SMRC) to recommence recycling processing, following last week’s announcement that loads were being temporarily diverted to landfill due to a breakdown in their contract negotiations. Cleanaway, who collects kerbside waste and recycling for the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, lost their major metropolitan Materials Recovery Facility in a major fire in November last year. Following the incident, Cleanaway had achieved interim arrangements for SMRC to process recycling on their behalf until late January 2020, but talks to extend the arrangement stalled. Shire of Augusta Margaret River Sustainable Planning Director Dr Dale Putland said he had been very concerned that the breakdown in negotiations meant local recycling was going to landfill, and was relieved to receive notice early this morning that SMRC would recommence processing of Shire recycling. “We are awaiting details of the revised contract and terms but what we do know is that processing of locally collected recycling will recommence from Monday 17 February 2020,” he said. “This will serve as a huge relief for the residents of the Shire who have done so well to adapt to the new three-bin service, and have achieved such a high resource recovery rate since its inception. “We can now turn our attention as a community to reducing contamination in our bins to ensure as much recycling as possible is able to be recovered, and ultimately repurposed and reused.” Cleanaway have advised that locally collected kerbside recycling will be taken to their Picton Waste Transfer station before being sent on to the SMRC facility. The Shire will advise the community at the earliest opportunity should more information become available or the situation changes. “Thank you for your patience and understanding while the Shire has worked with the contractors and stakeholders to resolve this matter as quickly as possible,” Dr Putland. “Please continue the good recycling work you have done to date.” To keep up to date on community news and information follow the Shire’s facebook page For information about the Shire’s three-bin collection service and in reducing waste follow the The Best We've Ever Bin campaign on facebook.