Page 158 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 February 2018
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MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Mr Steel very much for his question about the take-up rates for the green bins program in his electorate. I am very pleased to let members know that, with respect to registrations, in addition to Weston Creek and Kambah, Tuggeranong residents can now also receive the green bin service, which opened ahead of schedule last year. Similarly to the pilot in Weston Creek, the service has been very popular with Tuggeranong residents as well, with over 9,000 residents registering for the service. The initial delivery of green waste bins to Tuggeranong residents commenced in January, and the service started in late January.
As you know, Madam Speaker, as both you and Mr Steel have wonderful gardens, there are well-established gardens in Weston Creek, Kambah and Tuggeranong. I am pleased that we can make it easier for the community to dispose of their green waste in a responsible way. I was also very pleased to note that the territory has extended its contract with a local company, Corkhill Brothers, for the collection and processing of green waste, and associated services such as customer service.
MR STEEL: Can the minister update the Assembly on progress towards the planned city-wide rollout of green bins?
MS FITZHARRIS: Certainly I am very happy to update the Assembly on the proposed schedule for the city-wide rollout of green bins. Of course members would be aware that the government has committed to rolling out these green bins to all suburbs in the ACT. We received very positive feedback from the community on this great service and the benefits that it provides.
The pilot kicked off in Weston Creek and Kambah in April last year with more than 8,000 households taking up the offer of a green bin. We used the insights learned from the initial pilot to inform the city-wide rollout of the service. This commitment is running ahead of schedule and every suburb in the ACT will have access to a green bin by mid-2019. This means that we will complete delivery of our 2016 election commitment a year ahead of schedule.
Belconnen residents will be the next to receive green bins, with the Belconnen service commencing later this year. The remainder of Canberra will have their bins from July 2019, including suburbs in the inner north, inner south, Hall, Gungahlin and Molonglo.
The procurement for the whole-of-Canberra green bins rollout has started and was published on the Tenders ACT website in early February. The tender is open for six weeks and concludes on 22 March.
MS ORR: Minister, what waste management and environmental benefits will the full rollout of green bins provide to the ACT?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Ms Orr for the supplementary question. Indeed, there are many benefits in having access to a green waste bin: it will save the community both time and money. Residents in Weston Creek and Kambah generated over 1,280 tonnes of garden organic waste collected between April and December last year, with a continuing incredibly low rate of contamination of 0.05 per cent. I thank very
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