Don’t forget to have your say on options for future waste and glass collections

Just one week remains for you to have your say on the future of the municipality’s kerbside waste and glass collections. 

The community is invited to provide feedback on how often we collect your bins. 

More than 4,600 residents, representing nine per cent of households across the municipality, have so far completed the short survey. 

In line with State Government changes, Victorians will soon be sorting their household waste and recycling into four streams. All local government areas, including the City of Ballarat, will transition to a new glass service and a new food organics and garden organics (FOGO) service. 

The Options Paper presents the service options being considered by the City of Ballarat. The options for FOGO, household waste and glass collection services have been outlined based on their environmental benefits, cost effectiveness and convenience for households. 

Based on community feedback received in late 2022, three options are being considered for future household waste and food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collections:   

• Fortnightly FOGO and weekly household waste OR  

• Weekly FOGO and fortnightly household waste OR  

• Weekly FOGO and weekly household waste  

Our community is also being asked to consider two new options for glass recycling collections:  

• Monthly glass collection OR  

• Fortnightly glass collection 

There is no change to the current mixed recyclables (yellow lid) collection. 

The Options Paper is a result of community feedback from a survey held late last year. The City of Ballarat asked the community to help us shape the future of our waste and recycling collections by completing a short survey that was open for more than five weeks. 

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson encouraged those yet to complete the survey to have their say before it closes on 6 April. 

“It’s great to see so many people in our community have had their say and I encourage anyone yet to do so to have your say and help us shape the future of our kerbside collections,” he said. 

“The State Government’s changes to waste and recycling are a fantastic opportunity for our municipality to rethink our approach to waste. 

“The outcome of this survey will inform a new era in how we manage our waste.” 

Residents can read the Kerbside Transition Options Paper at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au or view a hard copy at City of Ballarat sites, including Customer Service and Ballarat Libraries. 

Residents can have their say: 

• Online at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au  

• Pick-up a hard copy of the survey at City of Ballarat sites, including Customer Service and Ballarat Libraries 

• Complete a survey at the Bridge Market at the Bridge Mall from 9am-1pm or at the Buninyong Village Autumn Market from 2-6pm – both being held this Saturday 1 April 

• By providing feedback via post to: Circular Economy Project Officer, PO Box 655, Ballarat, Vic, 3353, quoting the reference Kerbside Transition Options Paper. Posted submissions will be accepted up until 5pm, 14 April 2023. 

The survey closes 5pm, 6 April 2023. 

Feedback from our community on the options will be considered in the development of the Kerbside Transition Plan, which will be presented to Council later this year. 

The plan will include the results of the survey as well as a proposed timeline for implementation of the new kerbside waste and glass collections. 

To learn more about why kerbside collections are changing in Victoria, visit ballarat.vic.gov.au/sortingourwaste