New recycling program introduced for Lower Eyre Peninsula residents

It’s been more than a decade-long wait for bin day but a regional South Australian council has finally introduced a kerbside recycling collection trial.

It’s been a more than decade-long wait but recycling bins have finally arrived at regional Eyre Peninsula homes.

The District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula has rolled out yellow lid bins as part of a new fortnightly collection program.

Residential addresses in the district’s major townships of Cummins, Coffin Bay, Boston, Tiatukia, Tulka, Poonindie, North Shields and Louth Bay are a part of the seven month trial.

The yellow lid recycling bins were distributed to residents in Coffin Bay last week. Picture: Micaela Stark

Mayor Jo Anne Quigley said the introduction of kerbside recycling collection was “long overdue”.

“I think it is a really positive step forward to have this roll out,” Mayor Quigley said.

“Recycling bins have been on the council’s agenda for as long as I’ve been on council and this is my third term.”

The trial is a part of the council’s 2021/22 annual business plan designed to create sufficient segregation between general garbage and recyclables like cardboard, plastics and glass.

Previously residents had one bin for all waste and were forced to take recyclables to designated dumps.

Now, recyclable materials are collected by Veolia, processed in Port Lincoln and transported to an Adelaide facility with residents encouraged to check the kerbside recycling schedule.

District Council of Lower Eyre Peninsula Mayor Jo Anne Quigley was optimistic about the new recycling bin program. Picture: DCLEP

An additional $76.95 fee for recycling collection has been automatically charged to ratepayers which Mayor Quigley said had received mixed response.

“We know from surveys a lot of residents are really keen,” she said.

“The more recycling becomes the normal standard, the cheaper it becomes and the less we add to landfill which is great for the environment.”

However the arrival was welcomed by others like Coffin Bay’s Damon Hunt.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Mr Hunt said.

“It’s a lot more convenient for everybody and better for the environment.”

The trial will run until in June 2022 when council will review the service and determine if it will continue.

“Our major townships will participate in the trial then our hope is that it will work well, then we can roll out to all towns,” she said.

“From here the next step is green waste which council and the whole of the EP are looking to make work.”

The news comes after Port Lincoln Primary School students marched to council offices last month demanding green bins for the town.