Have your say on changes to bin collections

We’re switching the frequency of bin collections for general waste and food and green waste from 1 July 2022. This will affect everyone using Council’s kerbside waste services.

From 1 July 2022:

food and green waste bins with the light green lids will be emptied weekly general waste bins with the dark green lids will be emptied fortnightly.

We’ve listened to community feedback about smelly bins and pests and the need for more regular food waste collections.

Many households using the food and green waste service are also reporting that their general waste bins are half empty, but their food and green waste bins are full.

At the same time, we’re finding that some households are recycling only part of their food waste and putting the rest into the general waste bin (food still makes up 36% of the general waste bin).

We want your feedback to understand how to support you when we make the switch in bin collection frequency. How ready are you for the change, what issues are you concerned about and what support do you need?

There are no other changes to waste services – recycling and hard waste collections and the day your bins are emptied will remain the same.

Have your say

Why the switch

Since the introduction of food and green waste recycling, Bayside’s landfill waste has dropped to the lowest levels on record.

With 83% of households now using the food and green waste recycling service, a large proportion of our food waste is now being recycled into compost at our contractor’s composting facility in Dandenong.

This is great news for our hip pockets as landfills are filling up and costs are rising. Waste costs are passed on directly to ratepayers and this year, the Victorian Government landfill levy is increasing by 60%, with further increases forecast in the future.

The reduction in food going into landfill is also great for the environment as decomposing food waste creates methane, a damaging greenhouse gas. Diverting food waste away from landfill is a tangible action we can all take to reduce our impact on the environment and act on the climate emergency. These are two key aspirations of our community as articulated in the Bayside 2050 Community Vision.

Bayside isn’t alone in making this switch. Many local government areas around Australia already have weekly food waste and fortnightly general waste collections. This is becoming the norm to highlight the importance of recycling right and reducing the waste we send to landfill.

There’s more we can do

We’re encouraging the 17% of Bayside households who do not currently use the food and green waste recycling service to sign up today.

Anyone using Council kerbside collections can use the service including renters, owners and businesses for a one off $99 fee. If you are currently sharing a food and green waste bin with your neighbour, it's time consider getting your very own.

The cost includes a new bin (now in two sizes), a kitchen caddie, compostable bags and info to get you started.

With the collection switch just over 12 months away, it’s the perfect time to start recycling your food waste and see your general waste reduce just by making some simple changes. Find out more about food and green waste recycling.

Switching the collections frequency will also help to address concerns regarding smelly food in the food and green waste bins. Recent checks of bin contents show that our general waste bins still contain approx. 36% food waste. With the switch to weekly collections, we want to encourage all residents to put this food waste into the food and green waste bin.

What support do you need to get on board? Have your say.

Recycling right

There are no changes to the fortnightly collection of co-mingled recycling in the blue bin.

Our bin checks found that some recyclable materials are being placed in the food and green waste bins. We need to get this material into the blue bin where it belongs – recycled materials such as plastic, paper and glass cannot be turned into compost!

Council is working with our recycling provider Visy Australia to ensure our recycling is being put to good use. Find out what can go in your recycling bin.

Have your say

There’s a range of ways to provide your feedback on how we can support you when we make this change:

complete our online survey pick up a paper survey at any Bayside library, seniors centre and the Bayside Corporate Centre, 76 Royal Avenue Sandringham* face to face at one of our drop-in sessions - session details are available here.*

Feedback closes 9 July 2021.

*Subject to Victorian Government COVID-19 restrictions.

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