THINK twice before putting the wrong waste in the new green bins because Orange City Council staff are watching you.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$1/
(min cost $8)
Login or signup to continue reading
Cameras installed in the back of the garbage trucks mean the drivers can see everything that comes out of your bin on a monitor in the cabin of the truck.
For the first week council staff will walk along to inspect green bins to ensure people have got the message, if not the owner of the bin will receive a note.
After that the driver of the truck will press a button, log the offending bin and the resident will get a notice in the mail.
For one month the rubbish will continue to go to the Ophir road tip and will not be separated.
Orange City Council spokesperson Allan Reeder said some issues might arise with machinery and council needs to iron out any problems because even one bin could contaminate a whole truckload of green waste.
If the waste is contaminated it can not be used for mulch and farmers will not buy it because it can not be put on their property without risking the health of livestock.
“The initial stage will be about encouragement and communication,” Mr Reeder said.
“If the driver sees some inappropriate material go into the truck he will get out and put a note on the person’s bin and look at ways we can work together.”
If that does not work residents could lose the right the have a green bin yet they will still pay $80 a year for it.
“We could look at withdrawal of the service,” Mr Reeder said.
This system is in place for recycling bins and council has issued notices for people who repeatedly put the wrong waste in the recycling bin.
The green bin should only be used for food waste.
“If the truck is contaminated the whole lot just goes to waste but the emphasis is on encouragement and feedback in the early stages.”
nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au
