Palmerston residents vote to keep waste bin cycle as is after survey results

PALMERSTON residents have given their waste bins a big show of approval with almost 85 per cent voting in favour of keeping their current waste cycle

Palmerston council will maintain its current bin collection service after residents voted to keep the status quo. Picture: Keri Megelus

PALMERSTON residents have given their waste bins a big show of approval with almost 85 per cent voting in favour of keeping their current waste cycle.

The current system sees a 120L general waste mobile garbage bin collected twice a week from council and a 240L recycling mobile garbage bin collected fortnightly, while the other option would have seen a larger 240L recycling mobile garbage bin collected just once a week.

The survey saw 1553 responses, with results relatively consistent across all 13 Palmerston suburbs.

Alderman Damian Hale said it was good to have ratepayers reaffirm they were content with the current waste system.

“It was pretty emphatic, around about 80 per cent came back wanting to keep status quo,” he said.

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“The key issues were about truck movements and moving 240L bins, especially for seniors with the weight that can be put in those bins and the flies that can come with them.”

The survey cost council $5000, however aldermen were pleased the survey was undertaken given the interest it sparked from the public.

Alderman Lucy Buhr said it was the amount of people who had approached her to express their opinions that was pleasing.

“It has been a really hot topic, I’ve had people hunt me down to give their views on the bins … on Facebook the responses have been quite comprehensive,” she said.

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“I’m really pleased we did the consultation even though it was so obvious what the preferred option was when we started it.”

The results mean the current system will be maintained and incorporated into council’s next waste contract.

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Council’s contract with Cleanaway expires at the start of July, giving them a chance to test the waters and see if residents would like to see a change to their waste cycle ahead of the new contract, which will run for eight years.