At a Council Meeting on Tuesday 2 March, Brimbank Council approved a contract for landfill services that will ensure services continue to be provided after the expiry of the current contract on 31 March 2021.
Council understands the need to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, but our community still requires these services and will do so until a viable alternative to landfill is available.
The contract approved offers a more flexible 12 month rolling guarantee option, which gives Council the option to decide each year how much of the city's waste should go to landfill and how much it could send to an alternative, more sustainable waste disposal method, if one becomes available.
This option provides Council with the flexibility of guaranteeing a fixed amount of waste on an annual basis and the ability to pursue alternative waste solutions without being locked into landfill disposal for all its waste for the entire length of the four year contract.
Council determined to pursue the more flexible contract so that if alternate solutions become available, Brimbank will be able to move to more sustainable practices.
Through its own Waste, Recycling and Litter Strategy 2018-2028 and its support of the State Government's Circular Economy Policy, Council will work with the community to improve resource recovery and find alternatives to landfill.
Landfill services (including the State Government Landfill Levy) cost Brimbank residents $5.5 million per year and Council wants to make sure we deliver the best value for money.
Waste collection is one of Council's biggest responsibilities and Council will carefully consider its options to make sure this service is delivered to residents, whilst taking into consideration our environment.
While landfill is currently the only available option for waste disposal, Council is working with partners across the waste sector to find alternatives, and Council will continue to advocate for the appropriate management of the landfill to make sure our nearby residents are not impacted.
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Ranka Rasic:
"For far too long Brimbank and the west have continued to be the dumping ground for all sorts of waste. This contract will mark the beginning of a broader plan to minimise the amount of rubbish being dumped right here in our backyard.
"Committing to a one year rolling contract rather than a four year fixed contract gives us the opportunity to explore all other possible solutions for waste management such as waste to energy, and other solutions, which have huge benefits for our environment and our ratepayers.
"This Council wants Brimbank to lead by example and send a clear message that its time for long term solutions for waste management.
"We have been elected to put community interest first and this contract does just that by giving Council more flexibility to consider options that will benefit the community and our environment."
