It is the result of China banning imports of Australian paper and plastic waste from January 1. 

City of Ballarat director of infrastructure and environment Terry Demeo said they expected a variation in costs when it came to waste charges across the municipality. 

“It is expected the cost of processing will increase and that this will have an impact on waste charges across Victoria, including Ballarat,” he said. 

City of Ballarat is expected to meet individually with SKM in the next fortnight. 

Mr Demeo said he anticipates SKM will outline how they plan to manage the changed recycling requirements, “both in terms of meeting China’s demand for less contamination, and in pursuing alternative markets”. 

Read more City of Ballarat council recycling contractor SKM confirms waste program continues

In February, the state government announced a $13 million support package, which was shared among impacted councils and suppliers to provide extra time to reformulate recycling strategies.

A spokesperson for Ballarat’s recycling contractor SKM said after meeting with City of Ballarat today, they are now formulating an offer for council’s consideration and solidifying a long-term plan. 

“SKM met with a number of councils on Wednesday, including Ballarat, and presented the new proposals that have been developed to deal with the market issues facing kerbside recycling,” the spokesperson said. 

“We are hopeful an interim solution can be agreed with the council very soon while the details of the longer term contractual arrangements are finalised with the aim of having them in place by 1 July.”

The public consultation stage of City of Ballarat’s Waste Management Strategy is currently under way. The municipality is looking at local opportunities to better manage waste, in order to reduce reliance on overseas markets and possibilities around waste to energy. 

The five-year strategy is built around an objective of zero recoverable waste to landfill by 2040.