Green waste bins have now been rolled out across the whole of Canberra, with remaining residents, including those in the inner north and inner south, coming online this week.
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This final expansion of the program means the green-bin service from this week will be extended to Gungahlin, Woden, Molonglo, the inner north and the inner south.
For Greer Garrett-Meehan, of Farrer in Woden Valley, the bins arrived just in time for autumn leaves. Mrs Garrett-Meehan said she signed up the moment she had the chance, earlier this year.
“I got the bin two weeks ago and it was full by the time it was picked up," she said. “We don’t have a big property, but we do maintain a garden and it uses a lot of green waste.”
She said the green bins meant one less thing to worry about in a household with little spare time since baby Freddie Garrett-Meehan arrived.
All Canberra suburban residents are now able to opt-in online to receive a green waste bin for a one-off fee of $50, with the bins free for certain concession card holders.
Green waste is collected fortnightly alternating with the fortnightly pick-up of recycling bins.
Green bins don't take food waste but can be used for garden prunings, leaves, grass clippings, weeds, small branches (up to 45 centimetres long and 10 centimetres in diameter) and flowers.
Stumps, logs, soil, sawdust, ash, and construction-type materials are banned.
The ACT government initiative was trialled at more than 8000 residences in Kambah and Weston Creek in 2017, proving a success, with an exceptionally low rate of contamination. Roll-outs followed in Belconnen and Tuggeranong.
ACT Minister for City Services Chris Steel said more than 61,700 Canberra households had opted in so far. The take-up was 50 per cent in the pilot areas of Weston Creek and Tuggeranong, and 46 per cent in Belconnen. More than 20 per cent of residents in remaining suburbs had registered so far, a government spokeswoman said.
The scheme costs $36.8 million over five years.
Canberra residents can apply for the green bin service here.
