2017-04-11 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       11 APRIL 2017


Finance & Risk

The current optional garden waste recycling service is provided at a cost of $65 per annum for a
240 litre bin collected fortnightly.

The expected price for a 240 litre garden waste recycling bin from July 2017 will be $50 per annum
based on price modelling undertaken. This cost is in line with the 2014/15 Community Jury’s
recommendations which ask Council to:
1.   Expand Noosa’s existing three bin system in a staged manner to introduce a mandatory
     weekly organics collection for residential areas, with a mandatory green waste collection in
     2015/16.
2.   Minimise cost to ratepayers with cost increases not to exceed $50 per ratepayer for green
     waste and $70 per ratepayer for full organic waste collection.

A provision will exist for residents to opt for a larger 360 litre garden waste recycling bin in lieu of
a 240 litre bin. The cost of the larger 360 litre bin is estimated to be $70 per annum.

As the new service will not commence until September 2017, the cost of providing the 240 litre
garden waste service to new customers from September 2017 to June 2018 is approximately $41.

The cost of providing 9,000 240 litre garden waste bins, including delivery to Noosa is estimated
to be $450,000. An amount of $600,000 has already been provided in the 2016/17 budget. As the
supply of the bins is likely to be incurred in the 2017/18 financial year this funding may be requested
to be carried forward into the 2017/18 budget. The number of larger (and more expensive) 360 litre
bins that will be requested is unknown but will be catered for within the existing allocation.

The proposed addition of raw fruit and vegetable waste presents an innovative scenario and some
risk. Ipswich City Council allows the addition of a limited range of food waste in the fortnightly
garden waste service but that waste is composted. The Ipswich service is not a full organic food
waste service but allows more food waste than proposed by Noosa. The service operates
successfully with only occasional problems.

There is a risk that misunderstanding by residents or lack of attention to proper use of bins may
cause some issues early in the implementation of the service.

If the addition of this raw fruit and vegetable waste presents a major concern across the region one
risk mitigation procedure could be to instruct all residents to cease adding raw fruit and vegetable
waste to the bin

Consultation

External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
    Members of the 2014/15 Community Jury who considered how best to minimise Noosa’s
      organic waste;
    Cleanaway Pty Ltd;
    Commercial service providers delivering garden waste to the Eumundi Rd Landfill were
      contacted about the proposed service and impact on their business;
    ACCC in relation to Council’s proposed service and the potential for allegations of
      anticompetitive behaviour by Councils Waste Business; and
    AEC group who compiled and submitted a report to the ACCC




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