Manjimup Council to increase bin services and permanently remove skip bins to reduce illegal waste dumping

Skip bins will no longer be provided across the Shire of Manjimup after a trial removal of the bins revealed a significant reduction in excessive or illegal dumping of waste. On May 25, the council approved removing the holiday skip bins service after a report from a trial — which commenced on July 1 — stated once the holiday skips program was withdrawn, illegally dumped waste at the bin sites reduced by 93 per cent — 145 cubic metres — and saved the Shire more than $20,000 per year. The trial included increasing the servicing of street and public bins in Northcliffe, Pemberton and Walpole, increasing opening times for public waste disposal at waste transfer stations, and the discontinuation of the holiday skip program — no longer providing the bins across the shire during peak periods. The skip bins used to remain at the intersection of the South Western and Vasse highways, the carpark opposite the Pemberton Hotel and the carpark in front of the Northcliffe General Store. The trial report also showed only two instances of illegal dumping at the previous skip bin sites, a small increase in illegal dumping at several other sites within the shire and a slight increase of waste in public bins across the shire. All instances of illegal dumping were reported to have been managed by the Shire with no further instances reported since and additional waste in public bins was reported by contractors to be “manageable”. To combat additional waste in public bins, the council also approved the increase of street and public bin capacity and contractor servicing frequency in Walpole, Northcliffe and Pemberton, focused on holiday and peak periods and costing about $7210 per year. The additional expenditure of $9272 to increase opening times of waste transfer stations resulted in no increased waste disposal and will not be retained.