Illegal dumping of green waste

In August FOBIF wrote to Mount Alexander Shire suggesting that the issuing of free garden rubbish vouchers to residents might lead to a reduction in the amount of illegal dumping of green waste in our forests.

We have received the following reply from the Council:

“Mulching green waste taken to the Castlemaine landfill and then reused costs Council in excess of $100,000 per year. This processing cost is offset by the gate charge to the community when they bring green waste to the site. Hence, Council does not intend to discount or waive the fees to dispose of garden and other green waste at the Castlemaine landfill.”

In the meantime we have noted that Macedon Ranges Shire Council has introduced a new green garden recycling service whereby residents are supplied with a green garden bin. They have also introduced a free ‘Green Drop’ service at the Council Transfer Stations for larger, woody garden prunings. These initiatives would involve a high startup financial outlay but in the long term would be a great way to reduce illegal dumping and waste generation as well as increasing recycling.

Unfortunately given the constraints on the MAS budget, cost would make the adoption of the Macedon Ranges scheme unlikely in the short term. However FOBIF intends to keep raising this green waste issue with Council and looking at alternatives to the current unsatisfactory situation. Click here to view our earlier post on this subject.