Onkaparinga Council rejects calls for fortnightly green bin collection

PLEAS to have green bins emptied more frequently have been rejected, with Onkaparinga Council dumping local hopes for a fortnightly collection.

Residents in Onkaparinga Council will continue to have their green bins collected monthly.

PLEAS to have green bins emptied more frequently have been rejected, with Onkaparinga Council dumping local hopes for a fortnightly collection.

The council has decided against making any changes to its service because it would be too expensive – and, the council says, residents do not fill their bins high enough.

It comes as Kaurna state Labor MP Chris Picton presented a 1500-signature petition asking for the changes because bins were overflowing, causing fire hazards, and people were illegally dumping green waste.

But Cr Martin Bray said the council was “one of the smartest” because of how it collects green waste at present.

“Essentially, we have 60 per cent of green bins put out and the average fill rate of those bins is 40 per cent,” Cr Bray said.

“Why on earth would we put on another truck on?”

Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg agreed.

“Hear, hear,” she said.

A fortnightly collection would cost about $2.7 million a year, assuming the council’s bulk green organics drop-off service ended.

The council allows each property two additional green bins, at an annual cost of $30 for each bin.

It offers householders one free pass to unload excess green waste at drop-off centres in Lonsdale and Aldinga Beach.

Mr Picton, who started the petition in mid February, said the outcome was disappointing.

“It is yet again another example of the council not listening to the people,” he said.

“People feel concerned when they see the level of spending of the council but, at the same time, they can’t get the same services given to every other Adelaide council.”

Onkaparinga expects to carry out a “high-level review” about kerbside rubbish collection next year to help with planning its procurement processes.