A COMMITTEE member of the Hastings Residents Action Network has predicted a debacle when council’s new red bin policy kicks in on 1 September.
Treasurer Chris McLouthlin said many residents did not know how to use their recycling bin properly and changing to a new system before the issue was sorted out would only exacerbate things.
“Reducing red bin collections to one a fortnight when there are such issues is ridiculous, and I think there could be a debacle, with all sorts of things that shouldn’t be being put in the recycling bin because people cannot fit it in their red bins,” Mrs McLouthlin said.
“I know from personal observation that many people don’t know how to recycle properly now. I see people putting bottles with tops on in plastic bags in their recycling bin, without washing the bottles out.
“I would also estimate three-quarters of people don’t have or even know about the small green bins with biodegradable bags for organic waste you are meant to have in your kitchen, so you can put your food scraps in the recycling bin.”
Mrs McLouthlin doubted an educational program would solve the problem entirely and suggested council should monitor the results of such a campaign before implementing reduced collections.
She also objected to council dropping kerbside collections in favour of passes for residents to drop off unwanted items at transfer stations.
“That is just totally impractical in a retirement area with many ageing people on fixed incomes,” she said.
“How is an elderly couple – even more so a single – meant to transport a heavy lounge suite in a family car?
“With driving tests now for the elderly, I know people who are just too scared to drive and as the baby boomers age there will be more and more of us.
“As a pensioner, how do they afford to pay someone to collect the stuff and drop it off?”
Mrs McLouthlin said she had written to council voicing her concerns about reducing red bin collection to a fortnightly basis after 1 September and subsequently correspondence with council staff had failed to sway her from her views.
She said she was annoyed and upset at the trend for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to keep increasing rates and reducing services.
She planned to raise the red bin and kerbside collection issues for discussion at the next committee meeting of the residents action network in February.
“At the moment, my comments are just my own personal opinion, but if the others share my concerns we might look at putting in a formal submission on behalf of RAN,” she said.
