Kerbside waste collections which cost around a half a million dollars to conduct across the Region is a cost Council is not prepared to impose on its ratepayers.
Council’s Waste and Recycling portfolio spokesperson, Cr Vince Habermann said the costs associated with a region wide collection of rubbish piled on footpaths were prohibitive
“Council has investigated the reintroduction of Kerbside collection across the region but the costs of over $500,000 (or around a 1% rate rise for all ratepayers) was deemed ‘too costly’ and the idea was scrapped for a more cost effective Free Tip Weekend.
“The vast majority of ratepayers maintain their properties in a neat and tidy fashion and it is somewhat unfair for these people to have to bear the costs of a collection that favours people who do not dispose of their, usually bulky unwanted goods through the normal disposal process.
“Council is aware there are people calling for a kerbside collection and we are also aware there are residents within the community that genuinely do not have the resources to move larger items,” said Cr Habermann.
“The Bundaberg Region is serviced by many waste removal companies, skip bin operators, transport and hire companies that can all provide a means of disposing of any large rubbish items.
“In many instances, neighbours choose to share the costs of a skip bin or other removal methods.
“Council is currently finalising another Tip Free Weekend which will be announced in coming weeks. These weekends provide the opportunity for people to clean up their properties with no charges applied upon delivery to Council’s waste and recycling facilities.
“With the advent of storm season it is of paramount importance that people remove unwanted items from their properties that could become airborne in the event of wild weather.
Cr Habermann said Bundaberg Regional Council had demonstrated empathy with flood affected residents in the way it handled waste removal in the wake of the January 2013 flood event.
“I think the residents of the flood affected areas of Bundaberg will remember that Council ran free tip facilities for weeks after the floods. This impacted on Council revenue collection by more than one million dollars.
“At that time, and to ensure our hardest hit community members could remove their flood damaged goods and lessen their emotional trauma, we ran a night collection service around the streets in flood affected areas.
Cr Habermann said the Bundaberg Region had 11 waste facilities which ensured the Region was well serviced and residents generally faced minimal travel times to their nearest waste disposal point.
He said the Free Tip Weekend would be advertised as soon as a suitable date had been selected.
ENDS