Geelong households could receive a fourth kerbside bin under a proposed “food organics waste” trial.
Council was investigating a “number of options” for the trial, set to be rolled out next year, said City Hall services director Guy Wilson-Browne.
City Hall declined to identify any of the options under investigations, including whether the trial would use a fourth bin or some other receptacle to collect the food waste.
But City Hall said the service would reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
Food scraps comprised almost a third of waste in red household bins for general rubbish, City Hall said.
Findings from the trial could help guide a possible city-wide service collecting food scaps.
The proposed trial comes as council considers introducing further bins for recyclable materials including glass, paper and cardboard.
The additional bins could cost between $4.3 million and $6.5 million a year, according to council.
Mayor Stephanie Asher said councillors had agreed to wait until the release of a state-wide kerbside bin services review before introducing further bins.
“While it would be tempting to press ahead and introduce extra bins, the current state government review means it is wise to wait,” she said.
“Given the high costs, it would be counter-productive to implement one solution, only for the state to legislate for something different.”
City Hall is also continuing negotiations with Cleanaway for the resumption of yellow-bin recycling collections.
Council has sent yellow-bin contents to landfill since July after the collapse of processor SKM Recycling.
The city’s recycling hubs at North Geelong and Drysdale wouuld receive an additional $300,000, council decided on Tuesday.
The extra funds come as the facilities deal with “increased levels of service” following the closure of SKM, council saiud.
Meanwhile, Surf Coast Shire has begun a four-week trial for a fourth bin for glass at 30 households.
