Mildura Council has passed a policy limiting how much charities use tip for free

Mildura Council will be adopting a policy which will restrict how much waste local charities can dump at the tip for free. See the details here.

Mildura Council has voted to adopt a policy which will restrict how much waste local charities can dump at the tip for free.

Councillors voted on Thursday night on a policy which will stop charities from receiving unlimited free landfill disposal at Mildura’s tip.

According to the council agenda, the move aims to ensure a fair and reasonable approach.

It said prior to this policy there has been no uniform policy which addresses requests for free waivers, refunds and reductions for the payments of landfill gate fees, requests for free hiring of bins for events and street sweeping services.

Councillor Jason Modica said that this is an “important step” in ensuring the council meet their general environmental duty and that it would keep ratepayers happy.

Cr Modica said while council acknowledges the “beneficial work” charities provide, it costs money to dispose and manage waste and recycling.

“These costs are increasing over time,” it reads.

“The concept of free disposal is not real, instead ratepayers are paying for waste disposal and not the business or organisation disposing of the waste.”

Under the new policy, charities will be required to fill out a council form requesting free use of the tip.

That will be limited to a total of three tonnes per financial year.

To be eligible for free landfill, disposal groups will need to demonstrate they have strategies in place to reduce the number of times they use the tip.

Groups must also ensure all attempts are made to sort and recycle the waste being dumped for free.

If it is determined no attempts were made the group will be charged for disposal of waste.

The council report says this will encourage groups to think about their waste disposal and hopefully reduce the amount they take to landfill.

It is also expected to increase community knowledge and encourage action to live sustainably.

Mayor Liam Wood said council would “continue to support” the organisations that this policy impacted in transitioning and adapting to this new system.

Six councilors voted in favour of the policy, with no one speaking against the motion.