Council bringing back popular kerbside collection in 2021-22 Budget
25 June 2021
Ipswich City Council will invest in its popular kerbside collection service and the Enviroplan scheme in a budget set to boost the natural environment and sustainability.
The 2021-22 annual Budget delivered on 24 June confirms that the citywide pickup will go ahead during the financial year, with a council commitment of $1 million.
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chair Russell Milligan said this would be great news to ratepayers and residents across the region.
“We know our community highly values this suburb-by-suburb service and council worked long and hard to ensure we could properly budget for and bring it back again,” Cr Milligan said.
“Some residents cannot get to the tip or have the ability to carry large items there. So, the kerbside collections for those larger items is the ideal solution for them.
“Our teams will hit the streets again this year and I know council is pleased to be able to offer this service once again.”
The last kerbside collection was held between October and December 2019.
Items eligible to be placed on the footpath include furniture, white goods, household appliances, carpet and lino, wood products (excluding commercial builders waste), bicycles, baths and laundry tubs.
Mayor Teresa Harding said council had provided kerbside collections for hundreds of Ipswich residents impacted by the October 2020 Halloween hailstorms.
“It proved a lifesaver for some residents after that ferocious storm and I am certain the rest of our community is looking forward to this chance to get rid of bulkier items often left lying around the home,” Mayor Harding said.
The budget included $1.3 million to be invested in conservation estates such as White Rock – Spring Mountain, Mount Grandchester, and Flinders Goolman.
Council has also increased its Enviroplan Levy by $5 annually, from $46 to $51, creating an additional $425,000 for Ipswich’s environmental assets.
Council has allocated a significant investment from the 2021-22 budget to one of its key iFuture themes for the next 10 years: being natural and sustainable.
Also, in-line with the city’s new Resource Recovery Strategy, council will be modifying the kerbside collection program to incorporate a recycling element, where valuable items are reclaimed and recycled rather than being sent directly to landfill.
“Our outcomes through to 2026 include that Ipswich is celebrated as a clean, green, circular economy city,” Mayor Harding said.
“And our natural environment is interconnected across the city - it is managed to balance positive conservation and nature-based recreation outcomes including wildlife habitat protection.”
As soon as the program has been finalised, details will be available through normal council channels.