Snowy Monaro Regional Council residents that live remotely are up in arms at what they see as double charging by the council when it comes to garbage disposal.
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The residents main complaint is that they have to pay a “Waste Management Fee” of $101 which is applicable to all “rateable properties” in the council area and then they have to pay again to transport and dispose of their waste at the council facility.
On January 1, this year, the moratorium on Bombala and Delegate’s waste disposal was lifted and the area is now paying the same charges as the rest of the council region.
The $101 fee is a separate fee to the Kerbside Garbage/Recycling and/or Organics service fees people pay in addition for their kerbside collection service.
Remote users who take their waste to the collection facility are required to pay a minimum charge of $2 per shopping or garbage bag; $5 for 120 litre bin equivalent and $10 for a 240 litre bin or equivalent (about six garbage bags. Disposal of household recyclables is free.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council waste management officer, Patrick Cannon said, this system is seen as a fairer and more equitable method for the disposal and management of waste material that encourages ratepayers to recycle as recyclables are free to dispose of.
“It is understood that these changes will have different impacts on different types of households, however, residents are encouraged to take steps to minimise their waste therefore lowering their waste disposal costs.
“Properties that receive a kerbside collection service also have an additional charge ‘Domestic Waste Collection Service’ applied to their rates to cover the cost of providing this service,” Mr Cannon said.
Snowy Monaro Regional Council says the funds generated through the Waste Management Charge contribute towards the cost of ensuring the continued maintenance and availability of waste management facilities and services, waste education activities, the cost of servicing street litter bins, investigating and cleaning up illegal dumping activities to name just a few.
“This charge does not allow any residents to be able to deposit waste at a council facility for free,” he said.
Read what happened and how it all works by Snowy Monaro Regional Council waste management officer, Patrick Cannon here.
