Central Coast Council red bins collection could go fortnightly

An attempt by a councillor to have fortnightly red bin pick ups ruled out in a future waste strategy has been voted down by colleagues who accused him of scaremongering.

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Outspoken Central Coast Councillor Greg Best has accused council of planning to reduce red bin services while charging ratepayers the same waste fees.

Collecting the bins less often is one of a range of options being considered by Central Coast Council as it develops its first waste management strategy with the aim of reducing the amount going to landfill.

Central Coast Council is trying to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill through a new waste strategy.

The Strategy is in the very preliminary stages with public input being sought about options such as allowing food waste to go in the green bin, increasing rates and raising tipping fees.

Cr Best unsuccessfully tied to have council rule out any future cut back in the service at this week’s council meeting but was outvoted by colleagues who accused him of trying “scare people” about an issue that doesn’t exist and might not ever happen.

Fewer red bin collections could be an option.

But an unrepentant Cr Best insisted after the meeting he was in favour of reducing waste going to land fill but thought reducing bin collection to fortnightly was cost cutting by stealth.

“Even if there is less going in the bin, it can create a smell and maggots especially in the summer,” he said.

“People pay their rates and are entitled to have their bin picked up.”

“Using waste reduction is a smokescreen for reducing service delivery,” he said.

Councillor Troy Marquart also opposed any move to reduce red bin pick-up frequency.

Councillor Greg Best is concerned about possible bin pick up changes.

He said during Monday night’s meeting Lake Macquarie Council had introduced a similar measure a year ago which had resulted in community backlash and a “massive petition”.

He said the council agreed to extra pick ups but only if residents paid a fee. This fee was also reduced after a public outcry.

Lake Macquarie Council however, has stuck to its guns and says the fortnightly schedule is here to stay and that some people were taking longer to change waste habits.

Cr Kyle McGregor was one of those to vote against Councillor Best’s motion.

“This is confected rage and it’s very tiresome,” he said.

“The waste strategy is about education not scaring people.

“I’d rather we talked about best practice in waste management. it’s not some hair brained scheme like this motion.”