Calls for return of weekly red bin collections for 'unhappy residents'

With millions of Aussies around the country looking at ways to minimise their household waste, pressure is mounting on the nation's local councils, corporations and businesses to do the same.

Australia’s 537 local councils manage approximately 26 per cent of the country's rubbish, either directly or through contractual arrangements, and each year they pick up almost 10 million tonnes of waste from kerbside bin collections, according to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).

In a move mirrored across several Aussie LGAs, the City of Bayswater Council in Perth recently ditched weekly red bin pickups in favour of a fortnightly schedule. Like many councils, the City introduced food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bins, which are picked up every week.

Residents feel 'unhappy' over bin changes, council candidate says

In these bins, residents can put leaf litter, weeds, food scraps, fish scales, meat bones and even pizza boxes, paper towels, and tissues — sparing them from landfill. However, City of Bayswater candidate for North Ward, Paul Shanahan, says a "considerable portion" of "unhappy" residents within the electorate feel they are being "penalised" and have called for a return of weekly pick-ups.

"It's hard to put a number on how many, but from my many discussions with local residents, I'd say it's a considerable portion. People simply want more flexible bin choices that suit their circumstances instead of a one-size-fits-all approach," Shanahan told Yahoo News Australia.

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"There are many large households in Noranda and Morley and at the moment they are being disadvantaged — some would say penalised — by the current bin system, simply because they have large families.

"Cost of living pressures are making it harder. I'm a teacher and my students are frequently telling me they have no plans on moving out of home — it's simply not an option. Until that issue is addressed, I can't see the issue of more people per household easing any time soon."

'Awful smell' exacerbating bin dilemma

Shanahan argued Perth's current heatwave has exacerbated conditions, particularly when it comes to the "awful smell". "Two weeks in Perth's summer heat is a long time to have rubbish sitting around and this summer has been — and continues to be — a hot one," he said.

"The main reason people are unhappy with the current system is that awful smell. There is also mention of an increase in cockroaches and rats/mice due to the 14-day wait between emptying."

Environment group warns of cost involved

While Shanahan says he's spoken to many in the community who have called for the reintroduction of weekly collections, WA-based environment group Enviro House say there are many other avenues to be explored before that's considered.

Projects Coordinator Nadine Wright Toussaint explained that those calling for the change should be aware of the whopping $3 million price tag that she said the move would come with.

"The cost to ratepayers would be in excess of $3 million a year to reintroduce a weekly landfill bin collection. Currently, if a household needs an extra red landfill bin, it can easily be arranged at a cost of $111 a year for this service," Toussaint told Yahoo News.

"West Australians need to work towards creating a sustainable, low-waste, circular economy in which human health and the environment are protected from the impacts of waste. A three-bin system is actively promoted by the WA state government, with an emphasis on reducing landfill and increased recycling.

"Enviro House has not yet had a single rate payer approach us to discuss re-introducing a weekly red landfill bin service."

Online, people were torn over the LGA's bin scheduling. "I don’t have a problem with the bins being fortnightly — perhaps some better education is needed on how to reduce waste," a woman wrote.

"Have you worked out how much extra this plan would cost rate payers? I think there are better solutions to the issue... if red bins are full of maggots after two weeks it sounds as though they aren't being used as intended," a second said.

One woman who has a family of six said "we struggle with this". "Pick my red bin up once a month if you like. So little in it now and particularly nothing that could cause smells or maggots," another said.

Sydney council's backflip

The apparent division comes just days after the Inner West council in Sydney backflipped on its controversial new bin cycle that sparked an outcry from many residents. Like the City, the Inner West council changed general rubbish bin collections in mid-October from weekly to fortnightly and introduced FOGO (food organics and garden organics) bins for food scraps to be emptied weekly.

Following the backlash, Labour councillors announced on Friday their proposal to reinstate weekly general rubbish pick-ups.

Yahoo News has contacted the City of Bayswater Council for comment.

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