Shire-wide organic waste service anniversary

Published on 04 September 2020

Moira Shire has just celebrated its first year anniversary of the shire-wide kerbside organic waste service and has recorded some stellar results.

“Moira Shire is undoubtedly at the forefront of waste management,” Mayor Libro Mustica said.

“In 2014 Council introduced a kerbside organic service into the residential areas in our four main towns.

“Due to its overwhelming success, we expanded that service 12 months ago to include most residential-zoned properties throughout the shire; one of the first local government areas in Victoria to do so.

“Since 2014 we have diverted almost 15,500 tonnes of organic waste from our only landfill site, which is located near Cobram.

“We have also set a new industry benchmark in low contamination rates, consistently averaging less than 1% – we are currently registering 0.3% contamination rates in our organic waste and are the best in Victoria.

“The success of the organic waste service was directly attributable to the residents who have embraced it.”

Cr Mustica said ratepayers contribute around $500,000 a year in state landfill levies.

“It is vital we divert as much waste as possible from our one and only landfill site, not only to extend the life of this site but to keep our levy payments and waste charges as low as possible,” he said.

“We are landfilling around 11,500 tonnes of waste each year and at current rates our Cobram landfill will be full within the next 10-15 years.

“Current Victorian Government policy says Moira Shire Council will not be eligible for future funding assistance to establish and operate any new landfill sites.

“This means ratepayers will need to meet the entire future costs of a new landfill within our shire or we will have to ship our waste out of the shire.

“So it makes sense to extend the life of our current landfill for as long as we can.”

Cr Mustica said Council also needed to consider the cost of maintaining the landfill site once it was full.

“As organic waste breaks down it generates landfill gasses including methane which is at least 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide,” Cr Mustica said.

“In addition to paying levies to the state, councils are also required to meet the costs of monitoring and controlling these emissions – particularly methane – for at least 30 years after the landfill stops receiving waste.

“Our kerbside organic waste service will go a long way to save money for ratepayers now and well into the future, as well as looking after our local environment.”