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Sorting it out - Community Survey

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  3. Sorting it out - Community Survey

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How did Council decide on this proposed model?
  • Why is Brimbank Council proposing a weekly food and garden organic waste collection and fortnightly garbage collection?
  • Why is Council changing its waste service?
  • Why are we sorting household waste into four different bins?
  • When will the changes be introduced?

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How did Council decide on this proposed model?
  • The proposed waste service changes will ensure that Brimbank meets the State Government requirements to transition to a 4-bin service for households by 2030. Council consulted industry experts and Victorian Councils who have already introduced their 4-bin services.

  • Why is Brimbank Council proposing a weekly food and garden organic waste collection and fortnightly garbage collection?
  • Approximately 50% of our rubbish bins is food and garden organic material. This material will be collected weekly in your food and garden organic bin collection. This should leave ample space in your garbage bin.

  • Why is Council changing its waste service?
  • The Victorian Government requires that all councils must move to a 4-bin waste service to reduce waste to landfill, improve the quality of recyclables and have a system that we can rely on.

  • Why are we sorting household waste into four different bins?
  • The Victorian Government is standardising the way household’s separate waste and recycling. It will enable more and better recycling. It will reduce waste and landfill. The new waste and recycling system will help get more value from our precious resources. It will significantly reduce the four million tonnes of material Victorians send to landfill each year.

  • When will the changes be introduced?
  • It is anticipated that Brimbank households will move to a 4-bin system as required by State Government reforms in 2022/2023 subject to Council approval, with the addition of a glass bin to their existing garbage and recycling bins. A food and garden organics bin will also be rolled out to households who do not already have one.

  • Will there be any benefits to Brimbank?
  • The proposed 4-bin service will help divert waste from landfill and improve the quality of recyclables in Brimbank.

    We predict that approximately 23,000 Tonnes will be saved from landfill annually

  • Will this service cost me more to use?
  • The waste charge (in your rates payment) recovers the annual cost of providing waste and recycling services. It is paid by ratepayers through an annual charge on your Council rates notice and is reviewed every year.

    The overall cost of the proposed service, will depend on many factors including how often bins are collected, the amount of waste generated by the community and disposal/recycling costs.

    Council will provide further details on the anticipated cost of the new 4-Bin service as part of the Annual Budget.

  • Will all Victorian households have four bins?
  • Yes. All Victorian households will have four bins by 2030.

    Each Council can adapt this service in some ways to cater specifically to their community through things like bin sizes, collection frequency and community drop-off points.

    This is why we are consulting with our community. We understand one size does not fit all. We have a diverse community and want to hear their feedback.

  • Why is glass being separated?
  • When glass is collected in recycling bins, it can break and become a major contaminant. Broken glass sticks to other materials, such as paper and cardboard, making it very difficult to separate the glass from the materials. This reduces the quality of the glass, making it difficult to recycle. By collecting glass separately, we can make sure more of it is effectively recycled – with jars and bottles turned into multiple products, such as new jars and bottles, as well as used in road and footpath construction

  • I don’t have much glass recycling, I won’t need a separate glass bin.
  • The 4-bin waste service will become the standard service for households in Brimbank. Households without space to store a glass bin may need to use a glass recycling drop-off point instead. Where needed, we will work with residents to provide access to an alternative glass recycling option. If you don’t have much glass to be recycled, you may choose to only put your glass bin out for collection every second month.

  • Why are food and garden organics being separated?
  • Approximately 50% of household waste is food. This food waste is currently being sent to landfill (tip). When food breaks down in landfill it produces methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. When food is added to your green waste bin, it will be processed and turned into nutrient rich compost. This compost will be used to enrich soil on farms, parks and gardens.

  • Will collecting food scraps be smelly and messy?
  • Kitchen caddys will be available to assist in managing food scraps. Emptying the contents of your caddy into your food and garden organics bin daily will help avoid smells and mess.

  • Will my food and garden organics bin smell or attract rodents?
  • There are a few simple actions you can try to avoid odours:

    • Keep your food and garden organics bin in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight (in the carport, under your house eaves or a tree)
    • Ensure that the lid of your food and garden organics bin is kept closed at all times when not in use.
    • Place your food and garden organics bin out for every collection even if the bin is not full
    • Layer food waste with garden waste
    • Use baking soda, a squeeze of lemon juice or eucalyptus oil to clean your bin.
    • Spray lavender or mint oil near the base of your bins as this can deter rodents.
  • I already have a compost bin or worm farm, why do I need a food and garden organics bin?
  • You can continue composting your food waste. This service complements home composting; any food you don’t compost (such as meat, seafood, bones or citrus) can be placed in your food and garden organics bin.

  • I live in an apartment or unit, will everyone in my complex receive 4 bins?
  • No. Shared bins will be provided for residents.

  • I don’t have space for 4 bins. What options do I have?
  • People living in apartments, townhouses, units and flats, where space is limited, will use shared bins. Where bins are shared, there is a lower waste charge for all users. We will work with residents at properties with shared bins to determine the most appropriate number and mix of bins for their property. This could mean that some or all waste streams are shared at a property.

  • I have 3 babies in disposable nappies, how will a fortnightly garbage bin collection work?
  • Residents should continue to bag or firmly wrap disposable nappies and place in the garbage bin. Unfortunately, most bins smell. However, experience at other councils with fortnightly garbage collections have reported no ongoing issues with nappies once the service change was established.

    A 'Community Nappy Trial' conducted by Lake Macquarie Council showed that the smell of bins containing nappies at the end of a fortnight was no worse than the smell of regular garbage bins at the end of a week. The trial also showed that odour does not significantly increase with time, nor with the number of nappies in the bin.

    Disposing of solids into the toilet before firmly wrapping nappies, keeping your bin lid closed and storing your bin in the shade in between collections, will all help to minimise smells from the garbage bin.

    While the convenience of disposable nappies still wins out for many families, reusable modern cloth nappies have come a long way in the past decade. Whether using them part-time or full-time, the environmental and cost savings of modern cloth nappies can be significant. Using modern cloth nappies can also save space and reduce smell in the garbage bin.

  • How much will it cost me? Will I have to pay more?
  • The overall cost of the proposed service, will depend on many factors including how often bins are collected (weekly collections cost more), the amount of waste generated by the community and disposal/recycling costs.

    Council will provide further details on the anticipated cost of the new 4-Bin service as part of the Annual Budget.

  • How will my feedback be used?
  • Feedback on the proposed waste and recycling service will help us understand the diverse waste needs in our community. Your feedback will be presented to Councillors at a future Council Meeting for consideration as part of the determination of the 4-Bin service model.

  • What other Victorian councils have fortnightly garbage?
  • Experience from other councils shows that the highest performing waste services use fortnightly garbage and weekly food and garden organics collections. Councils who have adopted this service have reported sending significantly less waste to landfill.

    Victorian councils that we know have already introduced fortnightly garbage and weekly food and garden organics collections include:

    Metropolitan Victorian Councils

    • Boroondara City Council (since May 2020)
    • Glen Eira City Council (since July 2021)
    • Nillumbik Shire Council (for over 10 years)
    • Bayside and Banyule are planning to introduce in 2022

    Regional Victorian Councils

    • Bass Coast Shire Council (since 2017)
    • Benalla Rural City Council (since 2015)
    • Golden Plains Shire Council (since 2015)
    • Indigo Shire Council
    • Macedon Ranges Shire Council (since 2020)
    • Mildura Rural City Council (since 2020)
    • Moyne Shire Council (since 2020)
    • Strathbogie Shire Council (since 2015)
    • Surf Coast Shire (since February 2021)
    • Wangaratta Rural City Council (since 2015)
    • Wodonga Council (since 2015)

Contact Us

Have questions or want to learn more about a project? Contact us below:

Name Nicole Butler, Waste Education Officer
Phone 9249 4000
Email NicoleB@brimbank.vic.gov.au
Intrerpreter 131 450

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Acknowledgement of Country
Brimbank City Council respectfully acknowledges and recognises the Wurundjeri and Bunurong Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and future.
Contact Us

Phone: 03 9249 4000

Monday-Friday: 8.45am-5pm. After 5pm calls go to our after hours service.

Email: info@brimbank.vic.gov.au

Mail: PO Box 70, Sunshine VIC 3020

Web: www.brimbank.vic.gov.au

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