HOUSEHOLDERS could be provided with green waste bins within three years under a proposal being considered by Shoalhaven City Council.
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Council will debate the introduction of a food and green waste collection service at Friday night’s council meeting.
It has been recommended that staff provide a detailed report on the options and implications of a green waste system, including the construction of a processing facility, for further discussion at the November council meeting.
Council has considered green waste bins in the past and, only two years ago, threw the idea out the window due to the high cost.
However the new council will reconsider all household waste options, which could see a green organic bin for food and garden waste collected weekly, while the red-lidded rubbish bin and yellow-lidded recycling bin would be collected fortnightly.
Processing organic waste separately could reduce Shoalhaven’s landfill by up to 14,000 tonnes per year according to a report tabled at last week’s policy and resources committee.
In 2011/12, council collected 24,656 tonnes of waste from householders in the red-lidded bin, with more than half of the contents consisting of compostable food waste, garden waste and contaminated paper.
There are currently no large scale processing plants for organic waste in the Shoalhaven, so council would also have to consider constructing a facility or transporting the waste out of the area.
If council resolves to introduce the organic waste system, it could be introduced within 12 months, with a collection commencement date of between 18 to 30 months.
Councillors will hear that the new service could cost each household up to $80.
The green bin could delay the need for new landfill sites and has the potential for fuel or power generation.
The system could also provide compost, soil or electricity for sale back to the community and may reduce council’s landfill carbon tax costs.
Greens Councillor Amanda Findley said Shoalhaven residents in general have not been very good at managing their organic waste.
She said if people continue to put green waste in their red bin, council will need to open a new landfill facility.
“Council has tried to get people to compost, but we are still seeing green waste going into landfill,” she said.
“The only way for council to reduce landfill may be to charge ratepayers for a green bin.
“The other alternative is transport waste out of the city or find a location for a new tip and that would create the biggest uproar the city has ever seen.
“We need to poll ratepayers to see if they are prepared to pay for a green waste service.”
Cr Findley said almost every ratepayer in the Shoalhaven has the capacity to manage green waste on their own property, however they are not doing it.
“If the community doesn’t take on the responsibility, council will be forced to manage their organic waste for them,” she added
