While neighbouring cities increase collection cost, Whitehorse Council holds off on any rise

WHITEHORSE Council is unable to say if it plans to charge ratepayers more to have their rubbish collected from July.

Whitehorse Council is yet to decide if it will charge ratepayers more to have their rubbish picked up.

WHITEHORSE Council is unable to say if it plans to charge ratepayers more to have their rubbish collected from July.

This is despite councils in neighbouring municipalities choosing to burden ratepayers with the cost of China’s ban on imported recyclables.

Maroondah Council recently announced it would slug ratepayers almost $70 more to have their rubbish collected, while Monash Council flagged it would increase rates by $20 to $23 and Knox Council by $31.

Ratepayers Victoria vice president Frank Sullivan said councils needed to look at other alternatives before slugging ratepayers with the new cost of processing low quality mixed recyclables.

“Our concern is the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and some councils have been too quick to use it as an excuse to put up rates,” Mr Sullivan said. “We believe there are other options and we’ve asked the Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio to explore these.”

Whitehorse general manager of city development Jeff Green said the council had not yet agreed to any new payment arrangement with its recycling processor Visy Recycling, however, discussions would continue.

“Any financial impact on council arising from changes in the recycling industry will be reflected in council’s 2018/19 budget, pending adoption in June,” he said.

Council’s draft budget expects to deliver $64 million in capital works projects and has been made available for public consultation. Whitehorse residents are encouraged to make submissions by Sunday, May 27.

Copies of the draft budget are available at the council’s service centres, at the four library branches and at whitehorse.vic.gov.au/