2017/18 Budget - City Budget goes hard on waste pick-up
Date published: 27 June 2017
Townsville mayor Cr Jenny Hill has delivered on core commitments to the community with funding for a city wide hard rubbish collection and free green waste dumping in the City Budget 2017/18.
Council will also swing open the gates to the city’s landfills for an additional free dumping weekend in addition to the usual free long weekend in October prior to the cyclone season.
The measures are part of a bigger and improved waste management package to replace the under-utilised free dump voucher system, which attracts only 25% take -up.
Residents can dump green waste for free all year round at all the city’s landfills and transfer stations from July 1 and the hard waste pick-up is scheduled to start early next year.
Cr Hill said $2.9 million had been set aside in the Budget to deliver the new waste management commitments to the community.
“We made a commitment that hard rubbish collection and free dumping of green waste would be delivered in this term of council and I can proudly say we are keeping our promise,” Cr Hill said.
“I wanted to bring the hard rubbish collection back in 2012 but it was blocked by other councillors at the time who were in favour of the free tip vouchers despite the fact that 75% are never used.
“The mandate we received from the community at the last election means we are now able to get on with the job and make the changes that will give residents better value for money.
“Residents will receive the hard waste pick-up and free green waste dumping, and we have included an additional free dump weekend to provide residents with further options for dumping domestic waste.”
Council’s waste charges will also be more transparent to show residents where their money is going.
Waste charges will now show a standard kerbside rubbish/recycling bin collection charge, and a waste management levy for the hard waste collection and free green waste dumping.
Overall the new measures will cost each household an additional $6 in their waste charge.
Existing tip vouchers will still be valid until September 30 as part of the transition arrangements.
Chair of the Water and Waste Committee, Councillor Paul Jacob said the council was also upgrading landfills to improve facilities for the public and increase recycling.
“As part of improving waste management in the city, the council will also constructing transfer stations at the landfills in the 2017/18 financial year,” Cr Jacob said.
“This will promote more recycling at the front gate and reduce the volume and impact of waste going into our landfills.
"Dropping off recyclable materials at the transfer stations will be free. The only time you’ll have to pay when you go to the landfill is when you dump general domestic waste.”
Council will also swing open the gates to the city’s landfills for an additional free dumping weekend in addition to the usual free long weekend in October prior to the cyclone season.
The measures are part of a bigger and improved waste management package to replace the under-utilised free dump voucher system, which attracts only 25% take -up.
Residents can dump green waste for free all year round at all the city’s landfills and transfer stations from July 1 and the hard waste pick-up is scheduled to start early next year.
Cr Hill said $2.9 million had been set aside in the Budget to deliver the new waste management commitments to the community.
“We made a commitment that hard rubbish collection and free dumping of green waste would be delivered in this term of council and I can proudly say we are keeping our promise,” Cr Hill said.
“I wanted to bring the hard rubbish collection back in 2012 but it was blocked by other councillors at the time who were in favour of the free tip vouchers despite the fact that 75% are never used.
“The mandate we received from the community at the last election means we are now able to get on with the job and make the changes that will give residents better value for money.
“Residents will receive the hard waste pick-up and free green waste dumping, and we have included an additional free dump weekend to provide residents with further options for dumping domestic waste.”
Council’s waste charges will also be more transparent to show residents where their money is going.
Waste charges will now show a standard kerbside rubbish/recycling bin collection charge, and a waste management levy for the hard waste collection and free green waste dumping.
Overall the new measures will cost each household an additional $6 in their waste charge.
Existing tip vouchers will still be valid until September 30 as part of the transition arrangements.
Chair of the Water and Waste Committee, Councillor Paul Jacob said the council was also upgrading landfills to improve facilities for the public and increase recycling.
“As part of improving waste management in the city, the council will also constructing transfer stations at the landfills in the 2017/18 financial year,” Cr Jacob said.
“This will promote more recycling at the front gate and reduce the volume and impact of waste going into our landfills.
"Dropping off recyclable materials at the transfer stations will be free. The only time you’ll have to pay when you go to the landfill is when you dump general domestic waste.”
