Fortnightly red bin collections in the City of Rockingham are here to stay after council voted against a motion to reinstate weekly collections.
The motion was put forward by 440 residents in a Special Electors meeting last month and was debated by councillors at Tuesday night's meeting.
Councillors who voted in favour of the motion were Peter Hudson, Dylan Mbano, Ryan Robertson, Kelly Middlecoat and David Rudman, while those who voted against were Mayor Lorna Buchan, Deputy Mayor Robert Schmidt, Dawn Jecks, Mark Jones, Leigh Liley and Mike Crichton.
It is the second time since February that a motion to reinstate weekly red bin collection was defeated.
City of Rockingham residents have been divided since the FOGO system began in June last year, which saw weekly red bin collection change to fortnightly.
Many have reported an increase in flies, maggots and overflowing bins while others say they are coping well with the new system.
Mayor Lorna Buchan said the decision balanced environmental responsibility with cost impacts for ratepayers.
“Council carefully considered the views of the community alongside the financial and environmental implications before making this decision,” the Mayor said.
“Maintaining the fortnightly red bin service supports our commitment to reducing landfill and keeping waste costs as low as possible for all ratepayers.”
Mayor Buchan said reinstating weekly collections would come at a cost of $5 million for the first year and $2.5 million each year after that.
According to the City, it would also increase the volume of waste sent to landfill resulting in higher disposal costs.
"Maintaining the current system also avoids additional operational impacts, including the need for more collection vehicles and increased servicing requirements, which would add cost and reduce efficiency," a Council statement read.
"The City will continue to operate under its existing FOGO arrangements, including established contracts, funding agreements and service settings, consistent with many other Western Australian local governments."
From July 1, large households with five of more people can apply for an additional red bin at a reduced cost of $80.70 per year instead of the original concession of $128.
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