A Noosa Councillor will raise the issue of free tip and hard waste vouchers, following resident frustration over rising costs.
Councillor Amelia Lorentson told Noosa Today: “Council should consider any initiative that provides real value to the community.”
“Our role is to make sure that rates – our community money – are spent on services that genuinely benefit residents.”
“With tip fees rising, free green and hard-waste vouchers could ease the financial pressure on residents, reduce illegal dumping, and help people better understand how our waste facilities operate.”
“It’s an idea definitely worth considering, and one I will raise for further discussion in Council.”
Dozens of residents have voiced their frustration at high tip fees, lack of tip vouchers and no free hard rubbish collections.
A recent Noosa Today report on illegal dumping sparked a strong online response. Writing on Noosa Today’s Facebook site, resident Tracey said: “Instead of spending our resources on more cameras, you could instead bring back tip vouchers, kerbside collection of large items and lower tip fees.”
Marie said: “In every other council because you pay top rates you get a dump voucher … just because you live in Noosa Shire doesn’t mean you have endless amounts of money … do the right thing and give out dump vouchers to ratepayers.”
Dawn wrote: “The answer is simple; Return to the annual clean up & Council pick up, even for paid items. And, provide ratepayers with two free dump vouchers as of old. Council, listen very carefully, current policies are not working.
Melissa wrote: “How about free green waste disposal after these storms? Making people pay after what a lot of us have endured is absolutely disgusting.”
Noosa Council responded: “Noosa Council’s adopted From Waste to Resource Waste Plan sets a clear direction of encouraging the reduction of general waste through personal responsibility.”
Waste Services Manager Kyrone Dodd said a large kerbside collection program undermines this principle, is costly and creates significant workplace health and environmental risks for staff.
“Collecting, processing and managing waste is expensive and the most equitable approach to disposing off waste is through a user-pays model,” he said,
The last kerbside collection was conducted in early 2019 and cost in the vicinity of $500,000.
“Four out of five ratepayers had to pay for the service and didn’t make use of the initiative, and we also had significant environmental pollution with the dumping of asbestos, batteries and chemicals on our public streets,” he said.
“The current diversion and recycling rates for public waste in Noosa is one of the highest in Southeast Queensland, and we believe this is largely due to our residents embracing sustainability and the personal ownership of their own waste,” Mr Dodd said.
Any large kerb side collection program is not a free service. It comes at a cost for all ratepayers.
“Waste management globally is shifting from convenience-based disposal to making those who create the waste responsible for disposal.”
“The State Government has introduced levies and recovery targets to reduce the reliance on landfills and encourage recycling and resource recovery, ” Mr Dodd said.
Noosa Council has one of the lowest waste charges in Southeast Queensland.
Council’s website states a number of items can be dropped off at all three waste locations without change, including: ou can drop off the following items at all three facilities at no charge, including: E-waste (items with a plug or battery like TVs, electrical appliances, computers, laptops, tablets, printers, computer parts, cords, cables, CDs, DVDs) and white goods.
Fees apply to general waste disposal, including for mattresses, garden waste and tyres.
Fee charges can be found on the Noosa Council website: www.noosa.qld.gov.au
