Project Update: June 2022

Thank you for your input

The City of Cockburn is reviewing the way it collects bulk hard and green waste at verge collection time. A growing population and increasing waste generation mean the City’s scheduled bulk waste verge collection service is at capacity.

The City’s aim is to deliver a cost-effective verge collection service that meets community needs, while working towards Western Australia’s waste reduction targets.

What we did

To gain community insights, the City last year asked for your views on the scheduled bulk waste verge collection service and alternative collection models.

Over 1000 people participated in our online survey, community workshops, Facebook Live pop-up session and face-to-face discussions. Thank you for sharing your views and asking questions.

The feedback received will be considered alongside a range of factors, such as budget and resource requirements, to guide Council’s decision on how we collect bulk waste in the future.

What we heard

• Respondents use and highly value having a bulk waste verge collection service – 71.3% of respondents would consider the current service (scheduled model) in the future.
• Respondents are generally satisfied (80%) with the City’s bulk waste verge collection service and say it is:
  • Easy and convenient
  • Well-organised
  • Generally on-time
• While the service is viewed positively, respondents have experienced the following challenges:
  • Length of time waste is left on the verge before pick-up
  • Untidiness of street
  • Concerns about environmental impacts (lack of resource recovery)
• Respondents feel these challenges can be addressed through:
  • Waste education
  • Residents complying with verge collection rules
  • Individual accountability for reducing verge waste
  • Increased resourcing of the current service
  • More tip passes
  • Exploring alternative verge collection models such as verge valets and skip bins.
• Many respondents would consider (51.9%) or might consider (26.6%) a bookable verge collection service model (instead of scheduled) in the future, and envisage the following opportunities:
  • Ease and convenience
  • Cleaner, tidier streets
  • Reduced waste to landfill
  • Less illegal dumping
• Respondents identified the following challenges and solutions with a bookable verge collection service:
  • Easy and accessible booking process (i.e. consider support, education and various ways of booking)
  • Manage behaviour change (i.e. residents may place their waste out at the same time because they are used to the scheduled model)
  • Manage non-compliant residents (i.e. a sticker system on items booked for collection will support identification of illegally dumped items)
• When it comes to a verge collection service, respondents’ top priorities are:
  • Convenience
  • Environmental impacts and reducing waste to landfill
  • Education and resident compliance
  • Timeliness.

Next steps

City officers have reviewed community feedback and assessed a range of bulk waste verge collection models.

Findings have been compiled into a report for Council. View the report on the City of Cockburn website here. This report will be presented to Council at the June Ordinary Council Meeting:

• Where: Council Chambers, City of Cockburn Administration Building (9 Coleville Crescent, Spearwood)
• When: 7pm, Thursday 9 June 2022
• Watch online: View the Live stream here
• Registrations: Anyone is welcome to attend, however registrations are required and can be made via the City of Cockburn website here.

Meeting outcomes will be documented in the meeting minutes, which will be published on the City of Cockburn website here.