Seeing red over green waste bins
I have concerns over the new green waste bins the council of Ballarat are making mandatory that residents must have this service. I, for one only dump green waste once a year, so most times it will be sitting empty, yet l am expected to pay for it to be on my property.
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In addition, the green waste collection sites will be closed down at the rubbish depots. This makes me very unhappy that as rate payers we have no choice in this decision.I do not wish to have this service and believe it should be up to the individual household if they want it or not.
Pam Beckerleg, Sebastopol
Congratulations to the Ballarat City Council on the introduction of a green waste collection. The green waste collection is very important to separate usable green waste from the garbage, just as the recycling bins help this process. There will be a monetary cost for some people, but there will be huge benefits to the city and the environment.
Joyce Currie, Wendouree.
We will have compulsory "green waste bins" whether households need them or not for $60 or $70 per annum.
A serious gardener composts their green waste and uses a shredder. A non-serious gardener may fill a bin over many weeks, if ever. Green waste can be taken to the Transfer Station and is much cheaper, especially if free vouchers are used.
Residents with small blocks now have to find space to store the new bin along with the other two. Elderly people may find wheeling them a problem and would find it easier to organise a trailer to take garden prunings away. Many tree prunings would be too large to put in the bin anyway.
Some gardeners (I suspect a minority) may find the bin useful. Many would not and should be able to opt out. Will the compost produced be sold to farmers or supplied free? Can Ballarat rate payers get compost free? Is it a money making venture on the council's part hence its compulsory fee imposition? It seems to me another poorly thought out Ballarat council decision of which there have been many in recent years.
Ian Lynch, Miners Rest.
Who in Ballarat Council came up with this thought bubble of an idea to implement a "green waste" collection and charge extra for it. Many residents, including myself do not generate "green waste"? Why should I pay extra for something I do not want or need?
Collection of "green waste" in addition to other waste collections might seem like a good idea, but to force an extra rates charge upon those who don't need it is oppressive and unfair, especially those like myself who exist solely on a pension, and when rates in Ballarat are already some of the highest per dollar in Australia.
$60 or $70 extra per year for a "green waste tax" may be insignificant for some. For me, it is another unfair proportionally-impactful impost, becoming the norm in this country in recent years.
I call upon all of council to reconsider this "mandatory" charge, and allow residents such as myself who do not generate "green waste" to opt out.
Colin Miller, Soldiers Hill
REDUNDANT LIGHTS ON WEEKENDS?
The lights at the intersection of Alfred and Hertford streets, Sebastopol are a complete joke during the weekend hours. The lights change and stop traffic when no cars are on Hertford St. It is a joke.
The lights at the corner of Sturt St and Ripon St only change when a car stop at the lights.
Surely something can be done when the school is not open on weekends, as we also still get a green arrow to go into the school even though the gates are closed.
Brian McDowell, Sebastopol.