Green waste bins will continue to pop up in their thousands around Canberra as the rollout progresses to Belconnen in September.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The ACT government's green waste bin program had 22,400 residents in Tuggeranong and Weston Creek signed up by the end of June.
Of that, 9700 were in the pilot areas of Weston Creek and Kambah.
More than 3100 tonnes of green waste had been collected in green bins to June 30, a Transport Canberra and City Services spokesman said.
The waste is processed into high quality mulch and compost at the Corkhill Bros facility at Mugga Lane.
The spokesman said the green material collected to date had maintained a very low contamination level, recorded as 0.01 per cent of the total collection.
Canberra green waste service providers voiced their concerns when the rollout began with fears the government program would destroy their businesses.
Tom's Trash Paks Tuggeranong franchisee Lyal Keir said his business had taken a noticeable hit since the green bin rollout.
"In the first few months I was losing clients hand over fist but it has plateaued a bit since then," Mr Keir said.
"Look, if I'm honest it was probably not as severe as I was suspecting."
Despite the impact not being as great as he first imagined, Mr Keir said he had still lost about 30 per cent of his client base.
Mr Keir surveyed clients when they asked to leave the service, and found that of the past 30 surveys he collected about 26 of them had put the government's green bin program as their reason.
He said it had also put a freeze on new clients taking up the service with only two joining in the past five months. He has had to reduce his work days from five to three each week because of the downturn in business.
"It's starting to catch up with me," Mr Keir said.
"I'm currently trying to find casual work to keep my head above water.
"No one's going to buy a business that's going backwards."
In December city services minister Meegan Fitzharris said the government would work with operators like Mr Keir to identify other opportunities as the ACT waste industry progresses.
A Transport Canberra and City Services spokesman said talks were ongoing.
“Canberrans still have the option of doing business with providers like Tom’s Trash Paks," she said.
"The government is continuing to talk with these providers.”
It is anticipated Belconnen residents will be able to sign up for the government's green bin program in August with collections expected to commence in September.
There is a one-off $50 fee for a green waste bin which will remain in place as the rollout extends across all of Canberra. Eligible concession card holders are exempt.
