Council
26 November, 2021
Ipswich to handle Somerset waste
Ipswich City Council will handle rubbish collection for the Somerset Regional Council from July 1, 2022.
The decision was confirmed at the council meeting on Wednesday, with the new contract running until June 30, 2029.
The most significant change will be the introduction of 'yellow lid' recycle bins throughout the Somerset region.
While the new service will cost approximately $4 per week more, council officers said this would be offset by savings from having a single waste contract, so that the actual increase to residents would be approximately $1 per week.
With recycling services previously rejected by some sections of the community, Cr Jason Wendt said 'hopefully' this would show the council has been working to achieve an outcome for the community.
One issue the council will be pushing hard is to reduce 'contamination' in recycled waste.
Currently 15% of recycling is classed as contaminated, and part of the new contract is an 'education' program, to teach residents what can be recycled, and what cannot go in the new bins.
