Management of the shire’s landfills was up for discussion at Council’s September meeting after councillors received a report on the closure of or reduced hours at Bedgerabong, Garema, Ootha, Warroo and Wirrinya tips.
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The changes to rural landfills come into effect on November 6.
From that date, Wirrinya and Warroo landfills will be mothballed; Bedgerabong and Garema landfills will only be open twice a week while staffed; and Ootha landfill will be accessible only to residents via an agreed method.
The changes were announced last year – and met with community resistance.
The report to the Council meeting said Council had, “weighed the views of residents against the potential consequences of uncontrolled access to the shire’s landfills.
“Not all residents will be pleased with the decision but Council cannot continue to expose ratepayers to the level of risk the status quo entails.
“The NSW Environmental Protection Agency tightened its solid waste guidelines in 2016 and has cracked down on asbestos, tyres, and other problem waste. Fines for non-compliance can run as high as $1,000,000 a day.”
At the Council meeting, Cr Jenny Webb disputed the hours of opening at Bedgerabong - 1 – 4pm Wednesday and Sunday - saying it wasn’t a time people would stop work and go to the tip in summer.
She added that additional services flagged for the future, such as recycling facilities, should be in place before the hours were reduced.
But discussion amongst councillors quickly turned to the concerns about Daroobalgie landfill and how many red bins of rubbish are taken there each month.
Surrounding shires have charges on taking waste to their tips. Parkes started charging for general rubbish disposal in August.
Councillors asked whether more people were bringing their rubbish to Forbes tip for free.
Cr Phyllis Miller said people should have to their driver’s licence, showing they were a Forbes shire resident, before going through the gate.
Cr Steve Karatiana expressed concerns people might dump their waste roadside if they were turned away.
Cr Jeff Nicholson said the matter needed to come to Council’s environmental committee who could then bring a report with recommendations to the October council meeting.
