General News
18 March, 2025
Recycling closure leaves trader frustrated
The Yarriambiack Shire Council has backflipped on a decision to close the cardboard recycling facility at Minyip, providing the service with a lift line.
Instead of ending immediately, the council said the operation would continue until at least June 30.
The change of mind came after a business owner expressed her disappointment and frustration at a lack of communication regarding the Yarriambiack Shire Council's decision to close the facility.
Cassy Jenkinson, from Minyip IGA, said she was advised by a council worker that, effective immediately, the Minyip tip would no longer have cardboard recycling facilities available to businesses and residents.
"We were not given any notice or even a letter to state this was happening to allow us a chance to find a solution," she said at the time.
"This has a detrimental effect on our business as we use this facility weekly and have a large quantity of cardboard that needs to be recycled each week.
"I have looked at alternative options like a permanent skip for this purpose but at this stage have had no luck."
Ms Jenkinson said she was told she would need to transport the recycling to either Murtoa or Rupanyup going forward, and even if she paid for it, it wasn't permitted to be placed in general waste.
"This will have a huge impact on our business both in cost and labour," Ms Jenkinson said.
"The council showed no care or concern for us other than to say we would just have to deal with it."
Ms Jenkinson said they would need about 20-plus road ride bins of recycling emptied each week to handle the cardboard that passed through the store.
Late last week Ms Jenkinson received correspondence from council explaining the closure decison, albeit after it had been implemented.
"Several years ago, Yarriambiack Shire Council faced challenges with cardboard disposal at the transfer station, where it was placed in general waste skip bins instead of being recycled," the letter read.
"To address this issue, the council implemented a dedicated cardboard container service.
"Due to demand for cardboard recycling, we made the strategic decision to locate the containers at Hopetoun, Warracknabeal, Murtoa and Rupanyup.
"The cost of establishing this service is $45,000 per year, with an additional gate fee of $5000 per year, totalling $50,000.
"The expenses for this service are covered by ratepayers through their waste and recycling charge and by the council, which aims for full cost recovery for waste and recycling services, although this has not been achieved yet."
The letter explained further that the council currently charged the same fee for recycling and waste for businesses as it did for residents per year.
"This is an unusual arrangement, as generally commercial businesses pay a higher fee due to their waste disposal demands," it read.
"Our records and observations indicate that 90 per cent of the cardboard is coming from commercial businesses.
"Council is not responsible for managing or providing a service for commercial businesses."
The letter said that as part of the cardboard container introduction, the council provided a trailer service to collect cardboard and transport it to Murtoa or Rupanyup, envisaging that this would be for a small amount of cardboard, predominantly for residential ratepayers.
"However, we have seen large quantities of cardboard – three trailer loads per week – being deposited and our staff are then having to transfer and dispose of the cardboard into the containers," it read.
"We are effectively providing a private benefit to commercial businesses.
"A service we do not offer in any of our other 13 townships across the shire."
In response to the letter, Ms Jenkinson reiterated she was disappointed and frustrated by the lack of communication and short notice.
"I am not against paying additional fees in my rates because we are a commercial business (if reasonable), but we have never been given that option," she said.
"I'm of the understanding that we are the only business to be given a letter, which is most likely because I've contacted them directly and raised my concerns.
"So, I'm feeling very discriminated against."
But on Tuesday came good news for Ms Jenkinson, with another letter received from the council, this time from the council's chief executive, Tammy Smith.
"I have met with the team this morning, and we will continue to provide the trailer service at Minyip, emptying it once a week until June 30," Ms Smith wrote.
"You can continue to use this service at Minyip, and if the trailer is full, can l please request that you take the cardboard to Rupanyup?
"Alternatively, you can wait until the following week when the trailer is emptied.
"We are working through waste and recycling charges as we enter the budget cycle.
"I appreciate your feedback regarding the additional charge on your rates.
"As part of the budget cycle, we are reviewing our service levels and will determine how we deliver the service post-June 30, 2025."