Wanneroo City Council decided on March 3 it would continue to give away free mulch from its greens recycling facility.
Dubbed a community water-saving initiative, the City initially started giving away dirt early last year to reduce the excess that had piled up at the Motivation Drive facility.
A report on the council agenda said the facility received more than 8000 tonnes of green waste a year, and had an excess of about 6000 cubic metres of mulch created from it.
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READ NOW‘Over the last four years, the (centre) has accumulated an excess of mulch stockpiled on the adjacent landfill site,’ it said.
‘This excess mulch poses potential risks for the site; in particular spot fires and dust blowing to neighbouring businesses or residents.’
The report said the City had received 20,863 free loads of green waste from ratepayers between March 1, 2014 and February 7 this year, plus 941 paid loads.
‘Since April 2014, we have shredded enough green waste to create a further 17,040 cubic metres at a cost of $138,876,’ it said.
‘We have sold or given away 7297 cubic metres of mulch from March 1, 2014 to February 7, 2015 to the public and 6430 cubic metres were given away to commercial businesses, city projects, schools and non-for-profit.’
Ratepayers from the cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo, as well as non-profit organisations can collect as many 6×4 trailer loads of the mulch as they want.
Mayor Tracey Roberts said the City was committed to reducing its water consumption and the input of every resident would contribute to that goal.
‘We live in a rapidly growing community and it is imperative that the City provides residents with options to help them reduce their water use,’ she said.
The free mulch program will run until June next year, with the possibility of two one-year extensions.
It replaces the system of providing ratepayers with one mulch voucher a year.
According to the report, it costs the City about $951,000 a year to recycle greens, and the program will save $53,000.
The green recycling centre at 70 Motivation Drive, Wangara, is open 8am to 4.45pm on weekends and public holidays.