2019-06-11 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                   11 JUNE 2019


14                       REVISED GARDEN WASTE SERVICE POLICY
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Manager Waste and Environmental Health, Wayne Schafer
                                    Community Services Department

Index                               ECM/ Subject/ Waste – Council Reports/ Waste Management

Attachment                          Garden Waste Recycling Service Policy


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Due to concern regarding the volume of garden waste still being collected and disposed at
Council’s landfill in waste collection vehicles (following the rollout of the garden waste collection
service), waste management staff arranged for Envirocom to undertake a waste audit to
accurately determine the volume of garden waste being placed in general waste bins at resorts
and multi-unit accommodation. The audit confirmed that between 24% and 30% of waste from
these properties consisted of garden waste that could potentially be separately collected and
diverted via a garden waste collection service.
The most appropriate method to facilitate diversion of this garden waste is by changing the
Garden Waste Service Policy. A revised version of the policy has been attached to this report
and Council is being requested to endorse the revised policy to facilitate the changes necessary
to mandate a garden waste service to commercial and industrial properties, multi-unit
accommodation and resorts.
A variation to the Waste Management Contract 1516T043 is required to also include a 1,100 litre
garden waste collection service that is more appropriate for the collection of garden waste from
larger commercial premises.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Manager Waste and Environmental Health to the Services &
Organisation Committee Meeting dated 11 June 2019 and
A.                       Repeal the Garden Waste Service Policy adopted 20 April 2017;
B.                       Adopt the revised “Garden Waste Recycling Service Policy” provided at Attachment 1 to
                         the report, which provides for expansion of the garden waste recycling service to
                         commercial and industrial properties, multi-unit accommodation and resorts during the
                         2019/20 financial year; and
C.                       Authorise staff to make a variation to the Waste Management Contract 1516T043 to
                         include the provision of a weekly 1,100 litre garden waste collection service in 2019/20.


REPORT
A commercial waste disposal levy commences in Queensland on 1 July 2019. In response to the
levy it is appropriate to review how commercial waste may be diverted from landfill to minimise
the levy impacts upon Council and commercial customers. This report identifies potential savings
to both Council and customers by expanding the garden waste service beyond the current
mandated domestic collection service and revising the Garden Waste Service Policy to
accommodate this.
1.                       Background
Council implemented a mandated domestic garden waste recycling service in September 2017 to
require domestic residences within the ‘defined garden waste service area’ to be provided with a
minimum 1 x 240 litre garden waste bin collected fortnightly. The intent was to:


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