The annual kerbside bulky waste collection, which was this year cancelled due to COVID-19, will be replaced with a voucher system.
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MidCoast Council ratepayers who have a domestic waste collection service will each receive two waste disposal vouchers for use up until June 30, 2021.
The vouchers should be mailed by October 30.
Councillors unanimously voted on the recommendation at this month's ordinary council meeting, held in Taree on Wednesday, August 26.
The annual collection was cancelled earlier this year by contractor, J R Richards following a directive from NSW Health in its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, since the cancellation council has been inundated with calls from throughout the Mid Coast community about an alternative.
Councillors attended a workshop to discuss the options, prior to the August 26 meeting.
However, it would be up to ratepayers to find a means of transporting their items to a waste management facility.
This is an interim measure and a trial for the future.
- Len Roberts
A council report acknowledge the difficulty this could pose to ratepayers.
However the voucher system would enable residents to engage the services of a family member, friend or handyman to transport their waste to their nearest waste management centre, the report stated.
Cr Len Roberts said while the vouchers weren't a "perfect system, it's the system we must have for the time being.
"This is an interim measure and a trial for the future," he said.
"I think this is an excellent opportunity in the interim," Cr Karen Hutchinson said.
Cr Jan McWilliams acknowledged it was only a trial period and that council would be talking to J R Richards about how the bulky waste collection was going to operate from June next year.
Council will use its property management database and addressed postage to send out the vouchers.
The council report considered the pros and cons of this option.
Pros
- The vouchers go to the ratepayer, and it is their responsibility to pass it on to their tenants. For example, Department of Housing have indicated that they would like to use the vouchers to clean up properties that have been abandoned by the tenant rather than handing out vouchers to high turnover occupants.
- Opportunity to outsource the production, allowing for the vouchers to be mailed out in a timely manner.
- Minimal discretion, procedures and processes required from Council staff to implement the program which leads to Council's ability to provide the service in a timely manner.
- Easier to communicate to the community due to the simple process.
Cons
- Vouchers will be issued regardless of the ratepayer intending to use it.
- Tenants are required to contact their landlord for the tip vouchers to be passed on.
Cr Roberts said it was hoped service clubs and church groups may also become involved in assisting people.
The council report said the main benefits of the voucher system in comparison to the current bulky waste service were:
- More flexible waste types can be accepted, eg green waste, tyres, batteries, mattresses and other materials that could not otherwise be collected from the current kerbside collection.
- Residents can use the vouchers at a time convenient to them rather than an allocated day.
- Residents will sort the waste onsite which will lead to better diversion rates, saving landfill space and reducing environmental impacts.
- Waste on the streets for extended periods will not occur - leading to reduced scavenging and risk of injury, no fires on the road reserves and abandoned waste on the road reserves.
Cr Roberts said at the workshop a question had been raised about rescheduling the original pick-up and had been advised the schedule for pick-up needs to be booked in a year in advance, because particular equipment was being used in other council areas.
Liveable communities director, Paul De Szell said the voucher system would run until June 30, 2021 but council would need to look at a new waste contract before that.
He said data would be taken on take-up rates of the voucher system to assist with the determination.
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