PLANNED changes to Golden Plains waste collection will go ahead, despite a petition tabled before shire councillors on Tuesday.
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Waste collection will change to fortnightly instead of weekly, and recycling will change from fortnightly to weekly.
Councillors voted to make the change on December 16, with residents outraged at the decision and fighting to have it reversed.
Sue White organised a petition, signed by more than 700 people online and more in hard copy, which was tabled before councillors saying they were appalled by the decision, and disappointed that residents were not properly consulted before the decision was made.
The petition also argued Bannockburn residents living on smaller blocks did not have the capacity to leave their waste bins away from the front door; the smell, vermin and insects would be at their front doors; and families using disposable nappies would have to deal with the smell for two weeks.
Golden Plains mayor Des Phelan said Ms White made a good presentation but the council had already made its mind up, having already factored in the points in the petition.
“This decision will encourage people to recycle instead of contribute to landfills,” he said.
Cr Phelan said the two bins would remain 240 litres to save having to buy new bins.
“Eighteen per cent of waste is recyclable,” he said.
“We need to educate our residents on what is recyclable.”
The council will also look at establishing a transfer station and green waste collection.
“Some people will embrace the change more than others – but people have to realise that dumping waste in a landfill is getting more and more expensive, and we don’t yet know the long term effects of landfills.
“We’re not making this change to put people offside – we want to move forward as a community together.”
The change will become effective on July 1.
nicole.cairns@fairfaxmedia.com.au