Cost concerns for Katherine kerbside recycling plan as council develops waste management strategy

REGULAR kerbside recycling could be coming to Katherine, with council considering the measure as part of a waste management strategy

REGULAR kerbside recycling could be coming to Katherine, with council considering the measure as part of a waste management strategy – but the additional service could come at a cost.

Consultation for the 10-year strategy – a condition of a council and NT Environmental Protection Authority (NT EPA) agreement made after almost 300 tonnes of tyres being illegally stored by the council went up in flames in July 2019 – began last week, and includes an online survey that asks residents their views on recycling.

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However, the possible cost of an extra service – with one survey question asking ratepayers what a reasonable increase to the waste charge in their rates would be, ranging from a zero to 100 per cent ($750 per year) increase – has sparked concern from some community members.

A Katherine Town Council spokeswoman said community consultation was ongoing and the feedback received would inform the final strategy.

“Currently council is in the consultation stage with a survey (residential and commercial) available and options for the community to speak one-on-one at the stalls over the next three weeks,” she said.

Regular kerbside recycling could be coming to Katherine, with council considering the measure as part of a waste management strategy.

“Council is looking to find what the community would like and this (will) help when developing strategy for creating actions, deadline and estimate budgets.”

A NT EPA spokeswoman said the council’s strategy needed to include actions relating to “improved resource recovery and recycling”.

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“The plan may include a kerbside recycling service. This will depend on the viability of the proposal and the outcomes of community consultation,” she said.