Colac Otway Shire 2020-2021 Waste Calendars

Published on 13 July 2020

Community members can now access their 2020-2021 waste calendars online via Council’s website.

Council’s General Manager Infrastructure and Leisure Services, Tony McGann said the coronavirus pandemic had prompted many people in the community to move online to source information.

“More and more of us are conducting everyday errands and business online; this has become even more commonplace during the COVID lockdown with many in the community working and studying from home,” Mr Mc Gann said.

“While current restrictions remain in place, it’s important for our community to be able to access information on Council services from home. We’ve been working hard to increase the usability of the website and information provided to the community online.

“That includes being able look up waste calendars on the website or downloading a copy to print and stick on the fridge.

“If you’ve recently moved house, or just not sure which collection week you are, you can type your address as it appears on your rates notice to the ‘When Will My Bin Be Collected’ tool on Council’s website. This will tell you your next collection date and which bins to put out.

“Residents who would prefer a hard copy of the calendar can contact Council’s Customer Service team to have one posted to your letterbox.

“You can also drop by and collect a calendar from Council’s Customer Service Centres in Colac and Apollo Bay and also from general stores throughout the shire. 

“However by reducing printed copies we can also reduce some of the waste that used to go to landfill, so it makes sense to offer residents the option of accessing waste collection information online.”

Mr McGann said Colac Otway residents did a great job sorting their waste into the correct bins, however reminded people to continue to keep up to date with what goes in which bin to avoid contamination and recycling going to landfill.

“All food scraps can go in your green bin instead of general waste. 30 per cent of food waste is still going in the red garbage bin and ending up in landfill,” Mr McGann said.

“There’s a comprehensive list of what item goes in which bin on Council’s website. For example, you can no longer put plastic coated cardboard, such as milk or juice cartons into your recycling bin.

“Soft plastics also can’t go into recycling, so don’t bag up recycling and contaminate the whole bin. Local Colac supermarkets like Coles and Woolworths offer drop-offs for soft plastic for recycling,” he said.

“While COVID restrictions remain in place, we’re asking the community to please hold to e-waste where they can, until these recyclers are back in full operation.”