MORE than 8000 tonnes of organic waste from Ballarat will be recycled per year following the roll-out of new green waste bins, State Environment and Climate Change Minister Ryan Smith said.
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Mr Smith made the announcement at the Ballarat Town Hall on Saturday as he launched the initiative in which the state government has invested $500,000.
By the middle of next year, it is expected a new green bin will be distributed to the more than 42,500 households in the City of Ballarat.
Each bin is expected to hold about 70 litres of green waste.
Mr Smith there had been longstanding calls from Ballarat for a green waste collection in Ballarat, similar to services rolled out in other municipalities.
He said he saw it as an opportunity for the council and state government to work together to reduce Victoria's environmental footprint.
"Rather than handballing the responsibility or problem of green waste between the council and the state government, we used this as an opportunity to work together to create a beneficial and viable outcome for the residents of Ballarat," Mr Smith said.
"This initiative allows for green waste to be converted into something environmentally efficient and useable for the community rather than simply being thrown into a large hole which becomes a burden over time."
He said green waste would be converted into valuable compost and mulch products that could then be invested back into the community.
Ballarat mayor Joshua Morris welcomed the announcement and said it had been a focus of many of the councillors since they were first elected.
"We are very excited by this announcement because curbside green waste collection is an issue that has been raised with the council repeatedly by residents," Cr Morris said.
Last month Liberal candidate for Buninyong Ben Taylor called on the council to provide green waste collection bins to residents in the region.
Mr Taylor said on Saturday about 40 per cent of the rubbish in household bins was organic and green waste.
"When you think about how much waste that is which could be saved and recycled back into the community every year its incredible," Mr Taylor said.
Liberal candidate for Wendouree Craig Coltman had also previously put pressure on the council to install the model.
He said not only would it decrease council waste disposal costs but it had the potential to create new jobs in the region.