All go for green collection

By Tania Martin
GETTING rid of garden waste has just got easier for thousands of Shire of Yarra Ranges residents.
The council last week approved the introduction of the bin service despite a recent survey showing that more than half the people living in the collection area said no to the service.
In all, more than 10,000 properties, 21 per cent of those eligible, opted for the service.
In the Dandenong Ranges 22.6 per cent of people said yes to the service, 29.6 per cent said no and 47.8 per cent didn’t respond to the survey.
In township areas only 13.3 per cent said yes, 34.1 per cent said no and 52.7 per cent didn’t respond.
While in the urban areas of the shire 24 per cent said yes, 32.2 per cent said no and there was no response from 43.8 per cent or people.
But shire manager of community relations James Martin said despite the low take-up, the service would go ahead because it was optional and that more than 10,000 people had signed up.
Mr Martin said the number of people wanting to undertake the service had made it viable for the council to approve the program.
Mr Martin said residents who don’t want to take part in the collection would not be required to.
“People won’t have to contribute to it (the service) unless they choose to request the service at a later stage,” he said.
The council has also assured people that it would continue its kerbside green waste collection service.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said the new service would be a great benefit to people, especially those living in the Dandenong Ranges.
Cr Dunn said the bin collection would benefit people living in the hills that have a lot of noxious weeds on their property and need to get rid of their green waste regularly.
She said the green waste collection service would provide a better more environmentally friendly way of getting rid of garden waste instead of burning off or waiting for the shire’s green waste curb-side collection.
Residents now have three options to choose from including a standard 240-litre bin with a cost of $3 per week or $156 a year, a 120-litre bin for $2.60 per week or $136 a year, or no bin service at all.
The bin service is expected to start in December.