Recycling as standard for businesses in new commercial kerbside waste service

Recycling will be introduced as standard for businesses as part of Wagga Wagga City Council’s new kerbside waste service for commercial properties.

The new standard commercial waste service includes a 240 litre commercial general waste bin and a 240 litre commercial recycling bin, which will be collected on alternating fortnights.

Council’s Director Commercial Operations Caroline Angel said the commercial and industrial sector currently generate about one third of all waste sent to landfill.

“There are a diverse range of businesses in Wagga Wagga, from small offices to large industrial operations,” Ms Angel said. “Waste audits indicate there are opportunities to divert waste generated in the commercial sector away from landfill.

“The NSW Government’s Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2014-2021 aims to recover, reuse or recycle 70 per cent of waste generated by commercial and industrial operations.

“Currently, the recovery rate in Wagga Wagga is around 40 per cent and this new commercial kerbside waste service will assist businesses with improving their recycling.”

The roll out of the new service will start soon, with all rateable and non-rateable non-residential properties to receive their new bins between 20 and 27 August. The new service will start either on 27 August or 3 September depending on whether the property is on week 1 or week 2 of the recycling bin collection cycle.

“A letter and information sheet have been sent to all businesses and property owners advising of their specific service start date,” Ms Angel said.

“The letter also includes the timeframe for bin removal, which is by 3 September for properties on the week 1 cycle and 10 September for the week 2 cycle.

“Businesses and property owners can also check the sticker on the side of their new bins to see which collection cycle they are, or contact Council on 1300 292 442.

“If you do not receive your new bins by 28 August then please contact us as soon as possible.”

The previous commercial kerbside service included a weekly general waste collection only. Along with a recycling service as standard, the new service has additional services available depending on each business’s needs, including:

• Food organics and garden organics (FOGO) – weekly collection
• General waste – additional fortnightly collection
• Recycling – additional fortnightly collection
• Upsize to 360 litre recycling – fortnightly collection

Property owners were contacted earlier this year advising them of the new service and to let Council know of any additional services required by the owner or tenant. Additional services can be organised by contacting Council.

More information on the new service can be found at www.yourwaste.com.au/commercial, along with links to EPA fact sheets to help different types of businesses or industries reduce their waste.