By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
HOUSEHOLD garbage bins will be reduced by 20 litres in a bid to minimize waste and maximise recycling.
Under the City of Greater Dandenong’s new rubbish regime, 360-litre mega-recycling bins will also be made available for the first time, while the maximum garbage bin size will be reduced from 140 to 120 litres
The council’s new waste services contracts, which start in October, will see the new bins made available by the middle of next year.
Regional Waste Group councillor representative John Kelly said the new bins will give residents a greater opportunity to recycle.
“The great part about it is there’s more choice for residents,” Mr Kelly said.
“It’s all about reducing waste but increasing recycling.”
The council will appoint Dandenong organisations JJ Richards & Sons for its waste collection services and Polytrade for its receipt of recyclables contract, both for an initial period of eight years with an option to extend.
The new service will include a different colour co-ordination of bins with red for waste, yellow for recycling and green for organic waste.
The bins will come in a range of different sizes, including the smaller 80 or 120 litre garbage bins and the choice of a 120 or 240 litre organic waste bin.
In addition to the new 360 litre recycling bin, a 120 or 240 litre option will also be made available.
The changes are a result of new standards set by Sustainability Victoria and Metropolitan Waste in an aim to reduce the amount of rubbish taken to landfill.
Mr Kelly said this emphasis on recycling will encourage consumers to think carefully when shopping.
“We can get better at recycling our waste and it will prompt us to think about what we buy,” he said.
“The less we send off to land fill as rubbish, the better off we are because it costs us as ratepayers to send it to land fill.”
The new bin roll-out is tentatively set for 1 July and the City of Greater Dandenong will consult with residents to see what bins they require.
Director Engineering Services at City of Greater Dandenong Bruce Rendall agreed the new service will put a focus on recycling and prompt residents to be more environmentally aware.
“It’s a very good outcome and it will encourage a lot more people to recycle more,” he said.
