Tenders open for new kerbside collection service

The City of Wagga Wagga has called for tenders for its new kerbside waste collection contract, set to commence in April 2018.

Acting General Manager Robert Knight says it is an exciting development.

“After receiving more than 4,500 responses during our community engagement campaign on waste we know that this is something that interests everyone,” he said.

“This call for tenders is the next step towards introducing a new waste collection system that is efficient, cost effective, and environmentally sustainable.”

The biggest change in the proposed service will be the introduction of a food organics and garden organics (FOGO) bin that will be picked up weekly and processed as compost.

Mr Knight says that food organics currently make up around 60 per cent of Wagga’s household general waste bins, which currently goes straight to landfill.

“By keeping food organics out of landfill not only are we reducing our impact on the environment, we are minimising the need for new and expensive waste cells and future proofing against potential waste levies that may be introduced,” he said.

“I’m confident the tenders will be highly competitive and deliver value for money for Wagga’s ratepayers.”

Under the new system any food scraps that used to go in the general waste bin will go in the larger FOGO bin (green lid). The general waste bin will increase by 20L and will be picked up fortnightly.

As a result the capacity of the fortnightly pick-up will increase from 720L to 860L. This increase will be even larger if residents opt to use a larger 360L recycling bin. A bulky waste service will also be offered under new contract.

The proposed service will consist of the following for residential areas

• Weekly collection of 240L FOGO bin (green lid)
• Fortnightly collection of 140L waste bin (red lid)
• Fortnightly collection of 240L recycling bin (yellow lid) with option for a 360L bin
• 7L kitchen caddy and compostable liners for food organics
• Potential for annual pre-booked service for kerbside bulky goods/hard waste collection

The proposed contract includes expanding the collection service to Kapooka, Uranquinty village, Cartwrights Hill, Lake Albert, Springvale and Brucedale Drive. The exact boundary for these new collection areas will not be determined until the contract is finalised.

Once the details of the contract are finalised there will be an education campaign to ensure all residents understand how the new system works and how to use it. This information will include collection schedules and which items will go in each bin.

This project was supported by the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.