Premier Daniel Andrews says push for fortnightly garbage collections by councils ‘rubbish‘ idea

VICTORIAN political leaders have binned a proposal for councils to go from weekly to fortnightly garbage collections in a bid to cut food waste. See what Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy think.

VICTORIAN political leaders have rubbished a push for councils to introduce fortnightly garbage collections in a bid to cut food waste.

Premier Daniel Andrews said Labor did not support the proposal by state agency the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group.

“It is a rubbish proposal, and we will not be having any part of that if we are re-elected on the 24th of November,” he said.

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Premier Daniel Andrews wants weekly garbage collections maintained.

“It will not be happening under a Labor government.”

As revealed by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, a report said the best way to reduce food waste going into landfill was for councils to introduce a weekly kerbside organics collection and a fortnightly general rubbish collection.

State Coalition leader Matthew Guy said the plan sounded like a cost-saving measure disguised as a green initiative.

“I don’t support it, I think councils should be collecting on a weekly basis,” he said.

“That’s sensible, particularly for younger families where you’ve got nappies and other waste which you obviously don’t want sitting around, particularly in an Australian summer.”

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy.

City of Bayside mayor Cr Laurence Evans said the council would bring in a food and garden organics service from July 2019.

“Once it is working well and food waste is going into the (organics) bin rather than the domestic waste bin, we will then consider switching our collection schedules to domestic waste fortnightly and (organics) weekly in the future,” he said.

Port Phillip Council mayor Cr Bernadene Voss said there was no plan to change kerbside services due to the high number of residents living in units.

“Previous organics trials undertaken by neighbouring councils have shown that participation rates are generally low in apartment buildings, and often result in high contamination levels,” she said.

“Council is working with the MWRRG to find a solution to manage food waste that is cost-effective, accessible to all residents and considers the minimisation of trucks on the road.”

A City of Hobsons Bay spokeswoman said the council would consider its new waste management plan at a meeting next month.

“(It) will look at food waste avoidance as the preferred strategy to avoid landfill but also proposes to implement a food waste recovery service,” she said.

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