In July 2019, Bayside City Council launched the Food and Green Waste Service, a combined food and garden waste service rescuing food waste from landfill and processing it into a high quality compost for Victorian farmers.

There has been significant community support for the service, with an 83% adoption rate since its launch. However, the fortnightly collection of the food and green waste bin, which now contains predominantly perishable items, has created an ongoing problem with smell and mess as the food begins to break down inside the bin. Many residents who are keen advocates for the service have reported dissatisfaction with the fortnightly collection frequency. Additionally, when residents use the food and green waste service, the volume of their general waste bin reduces significantly as approximately 50% of this bin prior to the food and green waste service launch was food. Nearly two years on from the launch of the food and green waste service, our landfill volumes have significantly reduced, with our lowest landfill volumes on record in 2019/2020.

This presents Council with the opportunity to switch the collection frequency of the two bins so that food and green waste is collected weekly, while general waste can be collected fortnightly. There has already been significant interest and support from residents and Councillors for this to take place. The collections contracts are coming to end in June 2022, therefore offering the opportunity to inform a new collection schedule.

• Weekly collection of the food and green waste bin will mitigate smell and mess issues
• The change will support existing users of the food and green waste service and encourage households to use the service correctly
• Encourage the remaining 17% of households to register for the food and green waste service
• Reduction in volume to landfill
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• Creation of more high quality compost for Victorian farmers
• Contribution to a circular economy
• Forecast saving of $18.90 per tonne from sending waste to landfill in 2021/22 and $36.72 per tonne for 2022/23 as the Victorian Government landfill levy is set to increase
• Some residents may be adversely impacted by change to fortnightly general waste collection including households with babies or toddlers (nappies), larger households (many occupants), residents with a disability or chronic medical condition, and residents without a food and green waste bin

We're consulting with the community to identify key issues or concerns Council will need to consider when switching the food and green waste and general waste bin collection frequency.

• Eligibility criteria for a larger bin or additional bin
• Size of general waste bin supplied
• Size of food and green waste bin supplied
• Bin share scenarios for blocks of units and apartment buildings

• Switch to weekly collection of food and green waste bin
• Switch to fortnightly collection of general waste bin
• Fortnightly collection of comingled recycling bin

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

Impact: What level of change will the stakeholder / community segment experience as a result of the project/matter

Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated

Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum.

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought.

Key tools for communicating the project

Print:

• Addressed mail to residents who do not currently use the food and green waste service
• Postcard mailed to residents who use the food and green waste service
• Postcard with link to Have Your Say survey to hand out at face-to-face pop up events
• Printed survey
• Print advertising in a range of local newspapers/magazines
• Let’s Talk Bayside magazine

Digital:

• Have Your Say project webpage
• Email notification to Have Your Say members
• Council website news story
• This Week in Bayside e-newsletter
• Video
• Social media, including sponsored posts
• Article for inclusion in various special interest Council newsletters
• Digital screens at the Corporate Centre, Libraries, and Maternal Child Health Centres
• School and kindergarten newsletter advertisements

Key methods for gathering feedback

• Online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback
• Drop-in or pop-up sessions at major activities centres, local community centres and facilities
• Printed survey and consultation materials available upon request
• Liaison with community representatives: Community Development Steering Committee; Bayside Healthy Ageing Reference Group; Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Reconciliation Action Plan Group

It is expected that Council will consider the results of the community engagement on 26 October 2021 at the Council Meeting. The agenda, including the community engagement report, will be published on 19 October 2021 via Council's website. Project subscribers will also be notified of the results of the community consultation at this time.

The 26 October 2021 Meeting of Council will be live-streamed via Council’s website. Community members can also ask a question or request to be heard at this meeting.

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If you would like more information please contact Tim Cummins, Coordinator Recycling and Waste Management, on 9599 4437 or tcummins@bayside.vic.gov.au