Deputy Mayor Mark Greenhill with wife Lara, daughter Edie, one.
Ratepayers could be slugged with an extra $100 annual waste bill if a proposal for green bins gets the go ahead at Blue Mountains City Council this year.
A report is set to go to council in early April to start public consultation on the introduction of the bins.
“We actually think it is that popular that it will be taken up,” Deputy Mayor Mark Greenhill said. “We campaigned on green bins and we think people will embrace it despite the charge,” he said.
“When we moved from recycling crates to bins even though there was a slight increase to the waste charge people were thrilled to get them.”
Clr Greenhill said about 43 per cent of household waste is green or compostable waste and shouldn’t be going to landfill.
“About half of what goes into our tip doesn’t need to . . . the reality is we need to radically change the way we do waste and that tip (at Blaxland) is disgusting.”
Mountains residents will be encouraged to put their organic waste in these green bins on a fortnightly basis, the waste will then be delivered to a communal composting site with Lawson tip Clr Greenhill’s preferred option.
“It will be up to the people to tell us if they support this. The cost could be around $25 a quarter but it depends on what, if any option, the people of our city support.”
Clr Greenhill, who represents the Lower Mountains, said the bins “would reduce the amount of odour emitting from the Blaxland tip that has been impacting residents in Warrimoo and Blaxland”.
“The tip is primitive, it’s disgusting. Green bins will help protect our delicate environment [and] will see people having to pay less in tip fees as well.”
The councillor said it was a “potentially massive green reform” with even the faeces of four legged friends welcome in the bins.
Clr Romola Hollywood also campaigned on green bins for her Upper Mountains ward.
“Garden and organic waste makes up the majority of our household waste in the mountains. Many people in Ward 2 have said how much they would like a green bin for their garden clippings. No one wants to put these clippings into a general household waste bin. If we had a better option, like green bins, this waste could be regularly collected, mulched and turned into compost rather than going to landfill.”
Recently the council voted to reform other waste services with the annual pick-up service altered. Following a plan already in place at Penrith City Council, Mountains residents will need to call and book for pick-up of their large items.
Clr Greenhill said it was all a giant step in favour of the local environment.
“For years council has faced the need to overhaul waste services and bring them into the 21st century and a greener reality” he said.
If the community supports the bins they could grace Mountains footpaths as early as 2014.