THE split developing in Orange council over the way a shift from weekly to fortnightly garbage collections has been handled could derail a necessary change.
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While the three goals of reducing the amount of garbage going to landfill, increasing composting and recycling rates and keeping rate increases to a minimum are all admirable the process has been less than ideal.
Council has certainly done its homework on household habits when it comes to how many households really use their different bins wisely and sort their recycling, but it has fallen down on getting the message out and implementing the change.
The decision to move from a weekly red bin garbage collection to once a fortnight was not unanimous, which is hardly surprising.
Several councillors were uncomfortable with reducing a core service that many households rely on. Large families with young children in particular could find a fortnightly garbage collection very inconvenient.
Those councillors were doing what they were elected to do - standing up for the interests of residents. Their stance should be respected even if it is not agreed with.
This newspaper has certainly taken the position that a shift to more recycling and composting should be supported now because it will be inevitable in the future.
It has also applauded councillors for at least making an effort to control costs by reducing the garbage service, given the criticism Orange council cops over its high rates.
However, what is disappointing is the obvious confusion within councillor ranks about what stage the new contract is at and how public concerns should be dealt with.
Residents and rebel councillors have now been assured that no contracts have been signed and no arrangement made that cannot be unravelled, despite the contractor gearing up for the job in the expectation that the changes will be permanent.
It would be to the long term detriment of the city if changes to the garbage service did not go ahead because some councillors were spooked by a resident backlash that could have been avoided.