Maitland City Council may have signed off to extend the controversial bulky waste collection trial but the rumble on rubbish continues between councillors.
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The war of words continued at last week's council meeting during a heated debate over the proposal to extend the current bulky waste collection trial until June 2021 which will allow for the preparation of a Waste Strategy 2020-30 that will inform the next steps for bulky waste collection.
But long time advocate for a free bulky waste collection service, Independent councillor Philip Penfold, shot down the proposal.
"He [motion mover Labor councillor Hentry Meskauka] had the opportunity to move for the free service he has long advocated for not long ago," he said.
"I proposed a free service for Maitland as our neighbours have, and Cr Meskaukas and many of his colleagues chose to oppose that position at the time.
"This isn't a service that the council is providing to the community, this is a referral to a commercial operator. I do support a free collection service."
But Labor councillor Donald Ferris said the concept of free bulky waste collection was a "fallacy".
"Somebody has to pay for it. Someone has to pay for the $145 waste levy," he said.
"Somebody has to pay for the rubbish to be transported to, not our tip because our tip is full, Summer Hill or Newcastle. It's a very expensive process."
Council has operated a tip voucher system whereby each household is provided with a tip voucher every year which allows them to dispose of up to 400 kilograms of waste at Mount Vincent Waste Management Centre.
It also runs a number of other free waste services including Mattress Musters, Drum Muster, Household Chemical CleanOut and free problem waste disposal at the Community Recycling Centre.
"A lot of councils in NSW, who have historically done it, are trying to figure out a way out of it. We have never done it," Cr Ferris added.
The proposal received support eight to four, with the opposed including Liberal councillor Mitchell Griffin as well as Independent councillors Philip Penfold, Nicole Penfold and Mike Yarrington.
Independent councillor Peter Garnham said that while he agreed with Cr Penfold's push for free pickup, the need for a long term strategy was a key factor in his decision to support the move.
He broke from his block to support the plan, saying the "real jewel" of the report was the future Waste Strategy which was the "opportunity that we should be looking at".
Liberal councillor Ben Mitchell and Labor councillor Ben Whiting reminded the councillors that the motion was about the extension of the trial, and not free waste pickup.
Council will now continue the trial until June 2021 whereby a report will be prepared.
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