Sorting it out | Your 4-Bin questions answered

Under the State Government’s Circular Economy Policy all Victorian councils must introduce food and garden organics (FOGO) collection for all urban households and separate glass recycling collection. This will mean a four-bin system will be introduced across the state.

It’s estimated that up to 40 per cent of the municipality’s household rubbish is food waste, which currently goes straight to landfill.

Victoria is running out of landfill space which is driving up the cost to dispose of waste. This cost is passed directly onto ratepayers via the waste charge on your rates notice. By making this change, we’re helping minimise future cost increases.

Council is on track to introduce its 4-Bin Service in April 2023.

Under HRCC’s new policy, the new 4-Bin Service will be compulsory for all urban residents. Opting out of it will not be permitted, as this would not lead to the outcome required under the new Victorian Government legislation. Bin downsizing will be permitted.

While rural residents won’t transition to the four-bin system, there will be an improved service for out-of-town customers with a 240-litre commingled recycling bin, collected fortnightly, offered to all properties currently receiving waste disposal services.
Rural people will also have the option of depositing glass at transfer stations or designated collection points for free.

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 other materials to be unrecyclable.

Food scraps and garden waste are valuable resources that can be recycled into a high-quality compost to be used in local farms, parks, and gardens.

Also, decomposing food in landfill emits methane into the atmosphere, contributing to increases in greenhouse gas emissions.

The kerbside collections won’t all happen at on the same day, so there will never be any more than two bins from each household on the street.

Council will collect slightly more revenue due to the 4-Bin Service. However all of that money will be put towards the extra costs involved such as paying truck drivers and supplying the bins, so Council will not profit from the changes.

The new annual charge for urban residents will be $482. For people with existing 240-litre bins that’s an increase of $12. Those currently paying for a small bin will eventually see an increase of $175 per year. For rural residents, the service charge will go down $82 (for existing 240 L customers).

Due to the increase of residential areas in Horsham, some current rural areas will now be slated as urban, resulting in a $60 increase for the service in those areas.

Proposed areas include a general extension to Plozzas, Hunts and Holes roads at Haven that have a residential character be classified as urban waste customers and receive the four-bin service.

The new charges will be phased in over the next two financial years.

We recognise this will be a problem for some customers especially in units and flats. Solutions may include shared larger bins at some premises. We will look to other Councils who have implemented this change to find solutions.

To avoid bad odors, easily degradable food waste, such as raw and cooked meat, noodles and rice can be placed in an old take away container or plastic bag and placed in the freezer until collection day. The bag or container can be then emptied into the FOGO bin. DO NOT put plastic containers or bags into the FOGO bin.

Keep your bin fresh by closing the lid and storing it in the shade. All compostable or biodegradable packaging needs to go in the general waste bin. Our composting contractor cannot accept any bags or packaging due to the time it takes to break down. This material affects the quality of the finished compost sent to farmers.

The new household waste and recycling system is a key component of the once-in-a-generation reform of our waste and recycling service.

It takes time to make sure local infrastructure such as bins, trucks, and processing facilities is in place. Appropriate markets are also needed for recycled products.