Waste contract should include garden refuse
Gosford Council has decided that in any new waste collection contract submitted for consideration, there should be included an option for the collection of garden waste.
This follows criticism of an illegal dumping campaign conducted by the Council and the Central Coast Waste Board.
In the on-going campaign, anyone caught dumping grass clippings and other garden waste in reserves or bushland areas faces a minimum $750 penalty.
The council's current waste collection contract does not make separate provision for the collection of garden waste.
Central Coast Waste Board chairman Councillor Robert Bell said this option would extend the life of Woy Woy tip.
Council will enter a new contract period for their waste collection services in 2001.
Cr Bell applauded council's decision.
"The inclusion of a garden waste collection service will extend the life of our Woy Woy and Kincumber landfills," he said.
"The removal of this valuable organic material from the domestic waste stream will see at least a 20 per cent reduction in the amount of materials currently being disposed.
"The garden organics collected can be reprocessed into a valuable product and sold to the ever-expanding organics markets.
"The decision to include a garden waste collection service within the new contract makes economic and environmental sense.
"A garden waste collection service will see organic resources used in a more sustainable fashion and landfill capacity used responsibly."
The Waste Board's community liaison officer, Ms Trudi Baxter said: "Dumping of garden waste, such as grass clippings and tree prunings, introduces non-native species and weed seeds to our native bushland areas.
"These species will compete for resources with native species and eventually change the ecology of an area," Ms Baxter explained.
Council receives numerous complaints about the illegal dumping of green waste every week and has joined forces with the Waste Board to put an end to the activity.
Increased surveillance of potential and existing dump-sites by rangers commenced in early December.
Ms Baxter also encouraged residents to compost and mulch their garden waste.
"Garden waste and food waste makes up about 50% of the domestic waste stream.
By composting and mulching, residents will help to achieve the State Government's 60 per cent waste reduction target as well as producing a wonderful natural fertiliser for their garden," she said.
For further jnformation about the illegal dumping campaign, contact the Central Coast Waste Board on 4323 4343.
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