Wagga City Council is now proposing to give large families an extra bin six months after it reduced general waste collections to fortnightly.
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Previously, households that required an extra bin had to fork out about $80 for the privilege.
Now, families with five or more dependents under 18 will be eligible for a free 140 litre bin, provided they can show the council supporting documentation from a school or similar as proof.
The council’s director of commercial operations Caroline Angel insisted the council had always waived extra bin fees for larger families, but was now seeking to make the policy official.
“Previously, there was a waiving of additional fees for upsizing of waste services or additional bins to large families – this proposed fee encourages public comment and confirmation of a council policy,” Ms Angel said.
“Now that the system is ‘bedded in’, there has been very little negative feedback to our customer service from the community regarding any current issues with the frequency of collection.”
However, The Daily Advertiser understands concerned families who reached out to the council for an extra bin earlier this year were told that the cost would be added to their rates.
AS IT HAPPENED:
Wagga Ratepayers Association chief and local business owner Lynne Bodell said the new bin collection scheme did not seem very well thought out and still needed some work.
“This new policy only allows for families, yet if you have a large multi-person household not made up of children, I would think an extra bin would be equally important,” Ms Bodell said.
“We’ve also been getting complaints about tip fees, because it’s now significantly dearer to take green waste to the tip and have it recycled, so to speak, compared to builders’ waste.”
Ms Bodell said local businesses also had to fork out for green bins last month for the first time ever after the council introduced its new commercial waste scheme.
“Up until now we were allowed to have a green waste bin, and now we’ve had to pay for one, so it’s certainly discouraged businesses to have gardens and lawns,” she said.
“I would’ve personally been trying to encourage businesses to have gardens to brighten up the city.”
Residents can stop by the council until October 29 to inspect the proposed bin fee policy and make any submissions.
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