Mornington Peninsula Shire faces recycling headache due to bin chaos

Residents in a popular beachside suburb fear overflowing bins, contaminated waste and festering rubbish could be a common sight this Christmas.

Residents at a popular beachside holiday spot will face rubbish collection issues in the weeks when social parties and summer gatherings are at their highest.

A shortage of garbage truck drivers has forced the Mornington Peninsula Shire in Victoria to reduce the weekly recycling bin collection to a fortnightly basis over the Christmas / New Year period.

Normally, the council increases the collection schedule to a weekly basis over the shire’s most-populated six weeks as holiday-makers flood the area, attributing to an influx of up to 8 million visitors. This means residents will lose three of the extra pick ups normally slated for the period.

The reduced collection schedule could also lead to contaminated bins. Supplied: Facebook.

It’s feared the explosion of recycling waste like empty bottles and cardboard packaging could lead to bin contamination and overflowing rubbish.

Speaking on 3AW, Mayor of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, Anthony Marsh confirmed the “shortage of drivers”.

“What I’d ask anyone at home to consider, and what I’ll be doing, is putting it aside so we can spread it out over a period of time,” he said.

“There are weeks when my bins are quite empty and others where it’s overflowing so if we can average it and balance it, that would be key.”

Mr Marsh said the shortage in drivers would not interrupt regular services and people can take their excess recycling to the tip at no extra charge.

The shortage is also not expected to affect collection schedules to roadside public bins in foreshore and shared public areas.

Speaking to the Herald Sun, litter prevention advocate, Josie Jones said overflowing bins were already an issue and feared stockpiling rubbish could be a “fire hazard”.

“About one in three properties is an Airbnb and we’ve found that holiday makers generate more waste and are more likely to contaminate recycling bins with rubbish,” she said.

“We already have overflowing bins and the peak season hasn’t started.”

One resident said overflowing bins have already become an issue on the Mornington Peninsula. Picture: Supplied.

When it comes to waste collection, the Mornington Peninsula Shire has some of the strictest rules in the state. In July 1 the council introduced a major recycling crackdown which meant residents could be fined between $330 and $600 for placing incorrect items in their household recycling bins. Contaminated bins are also tagged and not emptied, with their services suspended for three months if a household’s bin misuse occurs four times in six months,

In March of this year, the council also introduced a Food Organic and Garden Organic green bin which diverts food waste like product, bread, dairy and meat scraps into commercial grade compost.