Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp launches war on waste to streamline CBD rubbish collection

MELBOURNE’S newly elected lord mayor has declared war on waste and the way it is collected, aiming to reduce smell, noise and congestion in the CBD.

MELBOURNE Lord Mayor Sally Capp campaigned on the issue and now it’s her No. 1 priority — rubbish. Or rather, how to streamline rubbish collection in an increasingly crowded CBD.

Currently, 36 private contractors and their trucks operate in the city centre, their vehicles and bins clogging laneways and streets, often at peak periods.

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Cr Capp’s war on waste aims to reduce noise, smell and congestion at the heart of the world’s most liveable city.

“From day one of my term, waste management has been top of my agenda, and my first meeting was to discuss how our waste system can be better managed,” Cr Capp said.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp launches war on collection of waste bins, with Cr Cathy Oke in Presgrave Place. Picture: Ian Currie

Rubbish in Normanby Lane in Melbourne's CBD. Pic: Snap Send Solve

Businesses in the city are entitled to one council collection a week, but many arrange extra pick-ups from private waste contractors.

“With 36 commercial providers registered to collect waste within the central city, in addition to council collections, there is a glut of bins and trucks clogging our streets and laneways,” Cr Capp said.

On Tuesday, World Environment Day, the Melbourne City Council is launching a discussion paper on ways to improve rubbish collection.

Rubbish-compacting bins like these are being placed on Melbourne’s streets.

“We need to find a solution, so we’re putting ideas out there to find the best fit for our city,’’ Cr Capp said.

Possible remedies include limiting the number of ­contractors or expanding communal garbage services.

The city produces more than 100,000 tonnes of commercial and 30,000 tonnes of residential waste each year, latest figures show.

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Many businesses store their bins outside their premises, leading to bad odours, litter and, in some cases, vermin.

Late-night or early-morning collections have become less common because of the impact on central Melbourne’s residential population, which has boomed in the past 10 years.

Environment chairwoman Cr Cathy Oke said rubbish was an ongoing concern.

“Since 2013, the City of Melbourne has taken an estimated 500 rubbish bins off the streets by setting up communal waste compactors and recycling hubs,” Cr Oke said.

The council is also installing large compacting bins, which are emptied less often.

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@IanRoyall