Published on Thursday, 1 August 2024 at 11:54:00 AM
City of Vincent households will receive two pre-booked bulk waste collections a year instead of one as part of the extension of Verge Valet.
Verge Valet is a flexible collection service which allows residents to book online a bulk waste pick-up at any time that suits them.
Following feedback from the community, residents will receive two free collections of up to 3m x 1m x 1m of waste each year which can include items like mattresses, white goods and electronics.
Reusable items can be rehomed through channels such as Buy Nothing Groups or op shops.
It has replaced the traditional bulk waste service that took place on a set date each year.
The trial, administered by the Western Metropolitan Regional Council (WMRC) started in 2022 and was extended in 2023.
The aim was to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and work towards Vincent’s goal of zero waste to landfill by 2028.
More than 200 people rated the service during this trial, with 80 per cent giving it a five-star rating.
Vincent will enter an initial three-year contract with WMRC for the service, with an optional three-year extension.
A person using the Verge Valet booking system on a mobile phone.
“Verge Valet has been a game-changer for our community as it is more flexible and less restrictive than the traditional bulk waste service,” said Mayor Alison Xamon.
“The service, which recovered 370 tonnes of waste in the 2023/24 financial year, helps us work towards our goal of zero waste to landfill by 2028.
“Using the Verge Valet system is as easy as booking your favourite restaurant, appointments or movie tickets.
“Many residents have praised the convenience of booking their own pick-up time and told us they have seen a reduction in scavenging and ransacked piles on their streets.”
Ms Xamon said based on important feedback from the community, improvements would be made to the service.
“We heard from the residents that the current Thursday collections do not enable them to organise their items on weekends,” she said.
“So, we have listened to this feedback and are working with the WMRC to look at changing the collection day to another day in the week.”
Ms Xamon said Vincent would continue to promote and raise awareness about the service, which was available for all residents.
From 12 April to 7 May 2024, Vincent conducted a survey which attracted 363 respondents, with 63 per cent saying they used Verge Valet.
Of the respondents who used the service, 58 per cent wanted to use it for future bulk waste collections.
The Verge Valet service is aligned with Vincent’s Waste Strategy vision of sending zero waste to landfill, Strategic Community Plan 2022-2032, Sustainable Environment Strategy 2019-2024 and the State Government Waste Strategy 2030.
More information is available on the Verge Valet webpage.
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