Sustainability - Reports

5.

Ordinary Meeting - 14 December 2016

SUSTAINABILITY

5.1

KERBSIDE ORGANICS COLLECTION SERVICE UPDATE

Document Information
Author

Brooke Pearce, Organics Project Manager

Responsible
Director

Craig Lloyd, Director Presentation and Assets

Purpose/Summary
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an update of the recently introduced
kerbside organics collection service and discuss immediate and future improvements to
the service.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Greater Bendigo City Council resolve to:
1. Note the update on the recently introduced Kerbside Organics Collection Service.
2. Remove the requirement of a Statutory Declaration and adopt an amended
application form as part of the exemption process.
3. Note that work is underway to identify opportunities for further growth of the scheme
and to seek opportunities to continue to reduce waste to landfill, with a focus on
community education.
4. Note that Local Law 3 (the relevant local law) is currently being redrafted to include
the organics service, for consideration by Council in mid-2017.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Policy Context
Council Plan Reference:
City of Greater Bendigo Council Plan 2013-2017 (2016-2017 Update):
Theme 1

Leadership and Good Governance

Strategic Objective 1

Council demonstrates leadership in its decisions to meet

future needs and challenges.

Strategic Objective 5

Continuous improvement methods are used to ensure

excellence in service delivery.

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Ordinary Meeting - 14 December 2016

Strategy 1.6

Programs, projects and services are guided by best

practice principles and delivered to respond to community
needs.

Theme 5

Sustainability

Strategic Objective 2

Council demonstrates leadership in reducing our

environmental footprint.

Strategy 5.5

The level of waste to landfill is reduced and residual

waste is managed responsibly to deliver the adopted
waste management targets.

2016/2017 Action 5.5.2

Implement the Waste and Resource Management

Strategy including implementing the recommendations of
the trial kerbside organics collection program, community
education about waste avoidance and reducing
contamination in recycled materials.

Strategy Reference (include weblink as applicable):

Waste and Resource Management Strategy 2014-2019
Background Information
In 2014, the Greater Bendigo City Council adopted the Waste and Resource
Management Strategy, which committed to introduce a new organics service for the
residents living in the Bendigo urban area and in the townships of Heathcote, Elmore and
Marong in an effort to divert organic material from landfill.
Prior to full implementation, a trial was held from September 2015 in Strathdale, White
Hills, East Bendigo, North Bendigo and Kennington which consisted of 2,800 properties.
The results of the trial were used to inform the future direction for an organics service in
the City of Greater Bendigo. Based on the trial data, a full rollout of a food and green
organics service showed the potential to divert around 12,000 tonnes of material a year
from landfill. This would also avoid around 22,800 tonnes of carbon equivalent (CO2e)
emissions per year.
On 2 March 2016, Council resolved to roll out a compulsory food and green organics
(FOGO) service to 38,800 households in urban Bendigo and Marong.
Council also agreed to allow an exemption policy for residents within the roll out area
who could demonstrate management of organic waste on their property. This process
included the requirement of a statutory declaration and a site visit to be completed to
finalise the approval of the exemption.
The full implementation commenced on 5 September 2016.
The service has been collecting approximately 300 tonnes per week of food and garden
waste, which amounts to significant savings in landfill airspace and greenhouse gas
emissions.

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Since 5 September 2016, approximately 4,750 tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide

equivalent) emissions have been avoided and the 2,500 tonnes collected is being
processed into compost.
Previous Council Decision(s) Date(s):
At the 2 March 2016 meeting, Council resolved to implement a kerbside organics service
for urban residents of Bendigo and Marong.
Report
Statutory Declaration Immediate Resolution
Since the introduction, the requirement for a Statutory Declaration has been unpopular
within the community and has had a significant impact on the organisation's resources.
Main feedback points received from the community are noted below:

The process was found to be time consuming.

The statutory declaration was deemed unnecessary considering an application form

had already been signed.

For the elderly and disabled, it was a difficult process to complete due to accessing
the required authorised witnesses.

Issues have been highlighted in recent months in regard to the accountability of

signatories where numerous parties reside within an exempt household.
Community Engagement and Education Strategies Future Planning
Prior to moving forward with the second phase of the project, a twelve month interval is
requested to conduct feasibility studies in relation to commercial and rural properties.
During this interval period, officers will consider the following factors as part of their
research:

Home composting scheme.

Developing a community education plan.

Review of collection cycles for all waste services.

Undertake community consultation to determine options for communities not

included within the current scheme.

Review to identify favourable enhancements to the current scheme, including options

to reduce the cost of our waste services.

Local Law 3 Future Planning

Local Law 3 currently makes specific reference only to garbage and recycle receptacles.
It is recommended that Local Law 3 be updated to include organics.

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Updating the local law will encourage education at numerous levels before commencing
with infringements or removing services.
Attachments
Nil.

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