New waste systems for the Mallee Track, Millewa and Nangiloc
Published on 08 June 2016
From 1 July 2016, Mildura Rural City Council will introduce a number of changes to the management of landfills, transfer stations and recycling points across the Mallee Track, Nangiloc and the Millewa.
Key to the changes is the construction of a new transfer station at Murrayville and the introduction of fees and charges for waste going to landfill. The new measures are aimed at encouraging recycling and decreasing the amount of waste being sent to landfill.
Environmental Sustainability portfolio Councillor Judi Harris said the changes will streamline waste services across the region and bring our landfills and transfer stations in line with EPA standards across Victoria.
“By limiting the amount of waste we actually put into the ground and by encouraging recycling, we are not only helping the environment but also lessening the maintenance burden on future generations.”
A new transfer station will be built at Murrayville and will replace the current landfill which is scheduled to cease operation once the new transfer station is complete. Construction of the transfer station is due to start later this year with Council receiving at $148,500 grant from Sustainability Victoria’s Rural and Regional Landfill Support Program towards the $300,000 project.
“Stopping waste going to landfill is a great environmental achievement but the site itself will require at least ten years of ongoing maintenance and monitoring including the capping of the site and the planting of new native vegetation.”
A user-pays system will also be introduced at all rural landfills and transfer stations with the proposed schedule of fees part of Council’s 2016-2017 Draft Budget process.
“The introduction of fees at our rural landfills and transfer stations is key to driving changes in the way people view waste,” Cr Harris said. “The more people recycle, the less the charge at the waste facility gate will be.”
“Sorting your waste will be the key. Just about anything can be recycled for free if it has been sorted correctly.”
Items that can be recycled free of charge include vehicle batteries, white goods such as washing machines, green waste, clean timber and e-waste such as electrical goods.
For those having to pay, the rural waste facilities will be cash-less facilities with EFTPOS being the only way to pay.
“It’s important people using the transfer stations after 1 July and who have rubbish to take to be thrown out, bring along their EFTPOS or credit card,” Cr Harris explained.
The new measures were adopted at the Ordinary Council Meeting in September 2015 and will see the hard waste compounds at Cowangie, Boinka and Tutye, which only accepted tyres and steel, permanently closed, with the waste facilities at Underbool and Murrayville will be available for these residents to be able to recycle more items.
At Meringur and Mittyack, the un-staffed transfer stations will be removed and replaced with a bin system where local residents can still dispose of and recycle their household waste. Any hard waste items will need to be taken to their nearest waste facility with Meringur’s being at Werrimull and Mittyack’s at Ouyen or Sea Lake.
Further information about the sorting of waste is available from Council’s website at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/waste or from any of Council’s service centres.
ENDS
Media enquiries
Angela Umback
p) (03) 5018 8689
e) angela.umback@mildura.vic.gov.au