A KERBSIDE green waste service could be introduced under a new City of Ballarat Waste Strategy, but at a cost.
Collection costs have been estimated at between $40 and $100 annually per property, depending on whether it was transported to the region’s only licensed composting facility at Bacchus Marsh or processed in Ballarat.
In a report to Ballarat City Council, growth and development director Eric Braslis said a large-scale composting facility was now allowed in farm zoned areas if suitable land was found.
“Based on other similar communities, the introduction of a universal kerbside green waste service will reduce the green waste received at the transfer station by 50 per cent and yield approximately 10,000 tonnes per annum,” the report reads.
“If a kerbside green waste collection service can be introduced and all green waste processed as pellets within Ballarat, the cost per property will be less due to the greatly reduced transport and avoided costs of gate fees charged at the composting facility.”
The draft strategy, to go before tomorrow night’s council meeting, also recommends moving to bioenergy for processing organic waste, adopting renewable energy to help fight rising gas and electricity prices and introducing community education programs to reduce overall waste.
Diverting more waste from landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cracking down on illegal littering are other key elements proposed.
fiona.henderson@fairfaxmedia.com.au