SMRC representative Patrick Hay, Bull Creek residents Jenny and Graham Lambert, and City of Melville resource recovery and waste manager Steve Wacher.
Camera IconSMRC representative Patrick Hay, Bull Creek residents Jenny and Graham Lambert, and City of Melville resource recovery and waste manager Steve Wacher. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

City of Melville’s three bin roll out food for thought for residents

Bryce LuffMelville Gazette

BINS to collect garden and food waste at about 7000 Melville households will begin being rolled out to residents on Monday.

The City of Melville’s three-bin Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) trial should provide residents with more ways to separate household waste at the source, leading to cleaner compost and less rubbish being sent to landfill.

The 12-month, $750,000 experiment will take place in parts of Bicton, Willagee, Mt Pleasant, Brentwood and Bull Creek, with homes receiving a new 240 litre lime green-lidded FOGO bin for their food and garden waste.

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The contents of the food and garden organics bin will be collected weekly and taken to Canning Vale-based Regional Resource Recovery Centre (RRRC) before being processed into compost.

Bull Creek resident Graham Lambert said he was excited by the initiative.

“People now are attuned to looking after the environment and this is just part and parcel of that,” he said. “In our own little way, we’re all helping out and that’s what it’s about, making that small difference on an individual level which, combined with a lot of people, makes a big difference in our community.”

The current dark green general waste bin will be replaced with a 140 litre red lidded bin for rubbish that can not be composted, including nappies and plastic bags.

The yellow recycling bin will remain and will be collected on alternate weeks to the red-top bin.

City of Melville resource recovery and waste manager Steve Wacher said the council had been planning the move for a long time.

“Long-term the goal would be a significant increase of diversion of waste from landfill,” he said. “The State Government targets 65 per cent; we’re fairly close to that now but I think if everyone does the right thing we can achieve about 75-80 per cent.”

The success of the trial is likely to determine if the system is expanded into Fremantle and East Fremantle.

The City of Melville should know within the next week if it has been successful securing a grant from the Waste Authority to help fund the trial.

For information, visit www.melvillecity.com.au.

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