Botany council's recycling crates go out with the trash

FULL recycling crates littering Botany streets will soon be no more, after Botany Council decided to replace them with mobile garbage bins.

New Bins

OVERFLOWING recycling crates littering Botany streets will soon be no more, after Botany Bay Council decided to replace them with large, mobile garbage bins.

At last week's committee meeting of council, a recommendation was adopted to replace the 25-year-old recycling crates, collected weekly, to one 240-litre bin, collected fortnightly.

With nearby Randwick Council replacing crates with mobile bins around 1997, Daceyville resident Belinda Comninos said the new system is long overdue.

"The crates are too small and don't encourage recycling, so it's really pleasing council is moving toward bigger bins," she said.

 Residents have overwhelmingly praised the decision. A Southern Courier Facebook post about the move received 68 likes and 42 comments, with all but one supporting it.

Botany Bay Mayor Ben Keneally said feedback from residents had made it clear they wanted an updated recycling scheme.

"The bins will make a huge difference to the way our streets look on collection days and make it easier for residents to recycle," Mr Keneally said.

What you said on Facebook:

Do you support the change to mobile bins?

* Michael Salas: "Big yes!!! Botany Council is lagging in this area. Just look at neighbouring councils (such as Randwick or Rockdale) and you'll notice a three-bin system (general waste, recyclables and garden waste bins)."

* Maria Cirignano Masi: "A big yes from me as we don't recycle because our recycle bins were stolen and it took like five months to get new ones, so yes to bins. It's easy and we can recycle more."

* Gwen Bard: "Late is better than never! The crate system is ineffective in the security and permissible volume of materials to be recycled, and the collection method is too labour-intensive. Time to improve effectiveness and efficiency."

* Glen Pitscheider: "Yes, I have a big family and we recycle and they are not big enough for us."

* Mark McGrath: "Stupid idea using crates they make more of a mess when the wind blows."