Onkaparinga Council votes to move to fortnightly green bin collection

After years of debate, residents in Adelaide’s south will finally have their green bins collected every fortnight — instead of every month — in line with the rest of the city.

Onkaparinga resident Jenny Clark wants her bin emptied twice a month. Picture: Stephen Laffer

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After years of Onkaparinga residents calling for their green bins to be collected fortnightly, they have finally got their wish.

At a committee meeting on Tuesday night, elected members voted in favour of moving to a fortnightly green bin service from January 1.

Currently, Onkaparinga Council is the only one in metropolitan Adelaide to empty green bins monthly — which has long been a source of frustration for many of its ratepayers who have complained about overflowing bins and their inability to recycle food scraps because of the stench of rotting food.

The council also decided to provide free kitchen waste bags for food scraps to residents.

As well as maintain its existing bulk organics drop-off service.

These reforms will cost $365,000 for that six month period.

The verdict is a win for Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson, who has pushed for the council to adopt a fortnightly service since she was elected in November.

Onkaparinga Mayor Erin Thompson. Picture Dean Martin

Ms Thompson said collecting green waste fortnightly would enable the council to be more “environmentally responsible” and divert more food waste from landfill.

She has also argued that it is unfair for Onkaparinga residents to receive a lesser service than ratepayers in other districts.

“I’m really happy the council voted to make the changes to our kerbside green organic service,” Ms Thompson said.

“(It includes) fortnightly kerbside green organics collection, the existing bulk organics drop off service and the supply of kitchen food bags for the first 12 months available for pick up at no cost to residents and available for sale there after.”

The decision will now go before the council at its meeting on May 14 when it approves its 2019-20 budget for community consultation.