Win for elderly and vulnerable after Brisbane City Council axe kerbside collection
Brisbane City Council controversially scrapped its annual free kerbside pick-up earlier this year in a bid to save $13 million. But there is a reprieve for those who need the service most.
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A FREE kerbside pick-up service will be available for elderly and vulnerable Brisbane residents during the two-year suspension of the popular council service.
The Sunday Mail can reveal residents aged over 60, who live alone or have a disability will be able to request a free pick-up through Brisbane City Council’s hotline to remove large and bulky items.
It follows the decision to scrap annual kerbside pick-up for Brisbane’s suburbs for two years in a bid to save $13 million, a saving council claims would be reinvested into “economic recovery initiatives.”
Brisbane City Council to pause kerbside pick-up for two years
Two-minute guide to Brisbane City Council budget
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the new scheme was aimed at those most vulnerable, who wouldn’t have the ability to move items to the tip.
“As part of the Good Neighbour Clean-up scheme, residents will be able to ring the Council call centre and book our contractors to pick up their unwanted items,” Cr Schrinner said. “The current economic crisis meant we had to make some tough decisions including postponing kerbside collection for two years,” he said.
“While we need to be financially responsible, it’s also important that our most vulnerable residents, who live alone or are elderly or frail also have the opportunity to get rid of bulky unwanted goods at no cost.”
The scheme, which is free, is similar to a program rolled out by Moreton Bay Regional Council in July 2019, which charges residents of 167,000 households a fee to collect bulky items.
Cr Schrinner also stressed that a number of other initiatives were being rolled out to Brisbane City Council, including sending free tip vouchers to renters for the first time ever.
The move comes after seniors groups sounded the alarm over the total removal of kerbside pick-up.
National Seniors chief advocate Ian Henschke said kerbside pick-up was an essential service for the elderly and vulnerable.
“That sounds wonderful,” Mr Henschke said.
“It’s a wonderful result and it shows that council has listened to the concerns of older Australians and acted very appropriately.”
“A lot of confidence will be restored in council by older Australians, it’s a very caring act because it’s looking after the most vulnerable.”
He said it was an important decision, especially since older Australians are particularly isolated during the pandemic.
Carindale seniors Eddie and Greer Laycock said annual kerbside pick-up was a good service that they would miss.
“Hopefully we can get back to normal, regular pick-up once or twice a year,” Mr Laycock (pictured) said.
“We always have something that we can certainly do without.”
“For a lot of people, the vouchers and the refuse tips – they’re all right if you have transport and so forth.”
He said designated free tip weekends for all residents was an idea worth exploring.