By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council is set to reduce the number of tip tokens residents receive each year from two to one.
At present, Wyndham ratepayers receive two tip tokens on their annual rates’ notice. Each token allows them to take a car full of rubbish, plus a loaded trailer, to the Werribee tip. But last week the council adopted a plan to offer a subsidised green waste service and three hard waste collections per year (instead of two) in place of the second tip token.
The changes to the council’s waste service are set to be introduced for the 2018-19 financial year.
They form part of council’s Wyndham’s Waste and Litter Strategy, which aims to achieve a 90 per cent reduction in the amount of rubbish sent to landfill by 2040.
The strategy also aims to “gradually
phase out” tip tokens.
A council report stated that in the past financial year, only 28 per cent of Wyndham residents used the tip token service, which equated to a total of 44,374 tokens being redeemed in 12 months.
Wyndham’s environment and sustainability portfolio holder, Cr Heather Marcus, said a key reason behind the changes was to make waste services more accessible to more residents, especially renters.
“Currently residents can book two hard waste collections each year, while the owner of the property receives two tip tokens,” she said.
“Unfortunately, landlords often fail to forward these tokens on to people renting their properties, meaning they miss out on this service.”
Cr Marcus said under the new system the council would subside a green bin service, meaning residents who opted for a green bin would pay $75 annually, as opposed to the present charge of $103.50.
Another report is expected to be presented to the council before June 30 this year. It will examine additional ways to help residents dispose of their waste, such as pop-up recycling days, additional recycling services during
the festive season, discounted mattress
disposal months and green waste disposal promotions.
