By Derek Schlennstedt
Yarra Ranges Council is urging residents to continue recycling, after 30 other Victorian councils, including Cardinia Shire, received the news that their recycling processor has closed.
Cardinia Shire Council was advised on 29 July that SKM Services had temporarily closed all of its sites, resulting in recyclables going to landfill.
In a statement, the shire urged residents to keep up recycling efforts despite the kerbside recycling collapse.
“We are disappointed about this situation and recognise this is frustrating for our residents, who have a strong track record when it comes to recycling,” Cardinia Shire Council said.
“No one wants recycling going to landfill and we are doing everything we can to find alternate arrangements to reduce the impact of this issue on our environment.
“Council remains focussed on maintaining services to ensure the health and wellbeing of our community.
“Our residential kerbside recycling collections will continue as normal for residents however, in the short-term, the recycling waste collected will be delivered to landfill.
“In the meantime, the best thing our residents can do is to continue their recycling efforts, so the recycling waste put into their bins remains uncontaminated for when the recycling processing recommences.”
Cardinia said the yellow-lid recycling bins would still be emptied.
“Residents can continue putting their recycling bin out for collection when it is their recycling week, as it will continue to be collected from the kerbside as normal,” the statement said.
The council suggested that residents could also continue recycling at free drop-off points listed here: bit.ly/2MiIW8l.
Yarra Ranges Council reiterated that recyclables in the Yarra Ranges municipality would not be diverted to landfill.
“Yarra Ranges Council uses VISY for its recycling collection and processing, and is confident that recyclables collected in the area will continue to be processed,” the shire said in a statement.
