Published on Wednesday, 2 June 2021 at 1:22:05 PM
The City of Vincent will continue to engage with and support local businesses ahead of its decision to end the Commercial Waste Collection Service by June 30, 2021.
To assist with the transition to a new supplier, Vincent is offering a 2021-22 rebate of approximately $520 to the City’s 1749 commercial ratepayers.
Mayor Emma Cole said the City of Vincent is also proposing a freeze on commercial rates in 2021/22, for the second year in a row.
“We know this decision has an impact on businesses and we are committed to a rebate plus freezing commercial rates. And we’re providing support and advice to make the transition as smooth as possible,’’ she said.
“The review of the commercial service was triggered by the planned roll out of the three-bin FOGO system for our residents in October. Our commercial service has only ever been an extension of the residential
two bin service, using the same sized bins and same trucks.
“Now that we are moving to FOGO, residents will have a weekly collection of a 240L food and garden organics bin and fortnightly collection of a 140L general waste bin and 240L recycling bin. With this
significant reduction in general waste, the FOGO service wouldn’t suit any but the smallest of commercial businesses.
“Commercial waste providers have economies of scale, are highly competitive and provide tailored services costed in a way that encourages less rubbish to landfill and more recycling streams.”
The Old Laundry in North Perth have been using commercial waste supplier Suez for years and encouraged other Vincent businesses to embrace the change and switch to a commercial provider.
“We honestly couldn’t imagine it any other way. For a business, especially of our size, residential bins are just not large enough,’’ Old Laundry Manager Ilana Dunnet said.
“I’ve worked in hospitality for 10 years and I’ve always used commercial bins and in the long term they are cost effective.
“If businesses are worried they may not have enough rubbish to warrant a commercial sized bin, a good idea could perhaps be to share bins with other businesses.”
Currently, Vincent’s Commercial Waste system is an extension of the two-bin system for residents, rather than a tailored service and isn’t designed to meet the needs of businesses.
It doesn’t discourage the diversion of waste from landfill and leaves many businesses operating with rows of unsightly 240L wheelie bins, which are difficult to manage.
To date, over 1,749 properties have been visited by the City of Vincent’s waste team to advise on the service change and answer any queries regarding the cease of services.
In addition, about 4,200 waste and recycling rubbish bins have been marked in preparation for removal.
Prior to the change being announced, 15% of businesses in Vincent did not use the City’s commercial waste service and others top up the base service by paying for extra bins from the City of Vincent or private
providers.
Mayor Cole said the City of Vincent had a vision of sending zero waste to landfill by 2028 and were conscious of the environmental impact of the current commercial service with its very limited recycling streams.
The City has developed a micro business service which will be available to commercially rateable businesses which are able to manage within the capacity and collection frequency parameters of the City’s
standard residential collection system - which will change to a three bin FOGO system from late October 2021.
This will be a discretionary, charged service option with a proposed charge of $699 per annum to utilise the City’s FOGO system (charge to be adopted as part of the City’s 2021-22 Budget).
This on-request option would be provided where:
• It can be accommodated within the City’s existing residential collection schedules/routes
• Is fully aligned with the City’s residential collection system, including: bin infrastructure, capacity allowances and collection frequencies
• That the business does not top-up their waste services through a private waste provider.
The City will roll out to its new FOGO 3-bin system for residents from late October.
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