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After all the complaining and moaning online, it seems we’re a pretty good bunch when it comes to recycling and using our green bins.
I mean, even the Mudgee Guardian called for a green waste service way back in 2015.
But it seems, despite all this in the lead up, and some more after the bins were distributed, we have embraced bin lids of all sizes and colours.
Rolled out in July the three-bin system was introduced in the the Mid-Western Regional Council area, Dubbo Regional Council and the Narromine Shire Council area.
Mayor Des Kennedy said at the time of the announcement, “This is a great outcome for ratepayers and the environment.”
“The new service will divert 3,000 tonnes from landfill each year, extending the life of the current Waste Facility by 10 to 15 years and subsequently saving millions of dollars in replacement landfill space.”
While it seems a few of us still need to learn the difference between plastic and not plastic, it’s sinking in slowly with the amount of plastic found in green bins going down.
More than 1400 tonnes of organic waste has been collected since the service was introduced.
If you read our piece on page 3 of today’s Mudgee Guardian or on our website early issues with contaminations has dropped to almost zero.
Recent reports to Council show that contamination in the organics bin has been low since the service started, with only 2.3 per cent recorded in its first month of operation.
Three months into the service and this figure has dropped to approximately one per cent.
And if you do throw something in the bin that shouldn't be there you’ll get a little note telling you not to do it next time – a good reminder and a good lesson.
If you are unsure before you toss, there is a lot of information out there about what goes in which bin – and for a simple solution you can always ring council and ask the question.
Let’s ditch the plastic (and make it easier for those working at the recycling plant), and focus on what goes in what bin.
And yeah, rates went up, but it’s all for something bigger than us, making the world a better place.
It seems, despite all the objections to begin with, we are a great group of recyclers – those tonnes don’t lie.
