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Sign up now for extra green waste service

Sign up now for extra green waste service

05 March, 2010

Councillor Margaret de Wit is offering western suburbs residents an extra bin for green waste such as grass clippings and garden rubbish to reduce waste to landfill and protect the environment. The voluntary user-pays service, to operate fortnightly, will be rolled out from April. Western suburbs residents are expected to receive their bins from November with collection to start in January. Councillor Margaret de Wit said residents could order up to two 240 litre wheelie bins with light green lids that will be emptied on the alternate week to the recycling bins. “This initiative is part of the Towards Zero Waste strategy and will reduce landfill with about 30 per cent of landfill being garden waste,” she said. “By removing this green waste recycling from landfill, Council will reduce its carbon footprint, but also capture an important resource to compost and return it to the ground. “This is a cheap and convenient way to have garden waste removed from your property if you do your own mowing, pruning or gardening. It is particularly good for the elderly. “If you are making numerous trips to the Council transfer stations to dispose green waste and using up all your disposal vouchers, then this service is ideal.” Green waste is organic waste that includes grass clippings, tree, bush and shrub trimmings, branches and similar material from home gardening activities. Big logs or tree stumps, vegetables, kitchen waste, animal droppings and cardboard are not allowed. Due to the size of Brisbane, the new service will be progressively rolled out over six months with the first collection services commencing in southern suburbs from July. Eastern suburbs will receive collections from September, northern suburbs from November and western suburbs from January 2011. For each bin ordered there is an initial set up fee of $55 and a quarterly rates charge of $16.25 or $65 per annum. The fees will be billed via the rates notice once the collection service starts. The service will not be compulsory but offered as an optional extra. Residents living in units should discuss with their body corporate who can order the service. Tenants will need the landlord or agent to apply on their behalf. Home owners can apply online at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or through the Council call centre on 3403 8888 by quoting their rate account number.