Rethinking recycling and waste
Published on 27 August 2021
Horsham Rural City Council is mapping out a plan for additional recycling services for urban and rural households across the municipality – saving thousands of tonnes of waste from landfill each year.
Under the State Government’s Circular Economy Policy, released in February 2020, all Victorian councils must introduce Food and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection for all urban households by 2030, and separate glass recycling collection by 2027.
At its 23 August 2021 meeting, Council adopted a draft service model that describes the possible transition to a new, four-bin collection ahead of that deadline – with further details to be considered at a future Council meeting.
In order to move to the new system Council will consider:
- A new fortnightly Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) collection
- A new monthly glass recycling collection
- Expansion of recycling collection in rural areas
- New glass recycling drop-off locations across the municipality
In summary, the service is proposed to include, in urban areas:
- A 240 L general waste bin, collected fortnightly
- A 240 L mixed recycling bin, collected fortnightly
- A 240 L FOGO bin, collected fortnightly
- An 80 L glass recycling bin, collected monthly (four-weekly)
And in rural areas:
- A 240L general waste bin, collected fortnightly
- A 240L mixed recycling bin, collected fortnightly (expanded to all rural properties with an existing waste collection service).
Later this year community feedback will be sought before any changes are made so that key areas of concern with the proposed service model can be identified and accommodated in the service to be implemented.
It’s estimated that up to 40 per cent of the municipality’s household rubbish is food waste, which currently goes straight to landfill.
When buried in landfill, food waste decomposes without oxygen, creating methane gas – which contributes to global warming.
Separating glass from other recycling will make recycling more efficient, and allow more glass to be recovered for recycling. Under the current system about 30 per cent of glass cannot be recovered and broken glass fragments cause problems for other recycled materials.
Mayor Robyn Gulline said Council would consider the timing, structure and cost of a new household waste and collection service at a future Council meeting.
“The State Government’s Circular Economy Policy sets out an ambitious plan to improve waste and recycling across Victoria. Our Council is committed to making these changes – but we will need Victorian Government support to manage the significant costs of transitioning to a new waste and recycling system,” she said.
“We all need to think carefully about the environmental impact of the goods and services we use, and how we dispose of things we no longer need.
“Diverting more food waste and organics from landfill means that we reduce the amount of methane gas produced when this waste breaks down – this is better for our environment.
“Council will carefully consider how we can responsibly meet our community’s waste and recycling needs while minimising our environmental footprint and additional costs to ratepayers,” Cr Gulline said.