Residents urged to do the right thing with green waste
Published on 23 January 2017
Mildura Landfill’s free green waste disposal service is a win-win for the entire community.
Not only can residents easily dispose of lawn cuttings, trees and shrubs at no cost, but the resulting recycled material can be used in a variety of positive ways within the region.
However it’s vital people disposing of green waste separate any contaminants to ensure the community continues to benefit from this free service.
Green waste disposed at the Mildura Landfill is recycled by turning it into mulch, which is then used in our parks and other public areas, as well as for the rehabilitation of landfills.
When available, Council is also able to offer free mulch for the community.
But when green waste is contaminated, it reduces the amount of usable material available for both our parks and gardens, and the general public.
Contaminants include invasive weeds which grow in the mulch when it is used. These include:
- Palm seeds (palm trunks, while not invasive weeds, should also be separated as they can’t easily be mulched)
- Prickles
- Cactus
- Boxthorn
- Boneseed
Other contaminants include general rubbish, construction waste and treated wood. These materials need to be sent to landfill.
Mildura Rural City Councillor for Environmental Sustainability Anthony Cirillo said that by taking that extra bit of care when disposing of green waste, residents and the broader community can continue to benefit from this free service.
“By doing the right thing when disposing of green waste and ensuring it’s free of contaminants we can continue to see the benefits of our green waste recycling efforts throughout the community,” Cr Cirillo said.
“And the best thing is, as more people do the right thing in terms of their green waste, there will be more opportunities for Council to provide free mulch to residents and local groups.”
Mulch serves a variety of benefits in your garden, including helping to retain soil moisture, which reduces water usage, building soil structure, adding nutrients and helping to prevent salinity problems by reducing evaporation. Mulch also introduces organic material into poor soils.
Residents interested in obtaining free mulch are urged to contact the Mildura Landfill to confirm its availability.
Media enquiries
Ben Piscioneri
p) (03) 5018 8689
e) ben.piscioneri@mildura.vic.gov.a