Free garden waste ‘drop-off’ to help prepare for bushfire season

A GARDEN organics drop-off will be held at Helensburgh this morning to help residents clear out waste ahead of the summer bushfire season.

Wollongong City Council is holding the free garden organics collections across November and early December, including at Corrimal on Sunday December 11. These are in addition to the weekly pick up of the green-lidded FOGO bins, which can also be filled with garden organics as well as household food waste.

The collections will take place on:

• Sunday, November 13, 7.30am – 12noon at Rex Jackson Oval, Helensburgh (access from Roberston Street).
• Sunday, November 27, 7.30am – 12noon at Fred Finch Park, Berkeley (access from Bedford Street).
• Sunday, December 11, 7.30am – 12noon at Ziems Park, Corrimal (access from Short Street).

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said that it was never too early to get prepared for the increased bushfire risk during summer.

“Our proximity to the escarpment and an increasing frequency of bushfires means that this is a serious issue for many of our residents. Now’s the time to start preparing your garden so that you’re bushfire ready,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Whether you’ve been doing extra spring pruning or have a lot of garden organic waste left over from winter, now’s your chance to do a bit of a clean-up and safely get rid of extra garden green waste.

“That also goes for residents who’ve been cutting their lawn and have lots of grass clippings. We know that the recent wet weather and sun has provided the ideal growing conditions for long grass. Council’s free garden waste drop-offs are the perfect way to dispose of this waste.”

No food organic waste will be accepted at these collections and that normal residential quantities of green waste will be accepted – for example trailer and carloads, not tip trucks or commercial vehicles.

Residents are also asked to only bring tree branches up to 10cm diameter cut into roughly one-metre lengths to assist with the compactors’ capacity to deal with the waste. Proof of residency, for example a driver’s licence, is also required at the drop off points. We also ask that you remain in your vehicle unless untying your load.

The green organics collected at the events will be taken to Soilco for processing into organic compost.

For further information on waste services visit Council’s waste page or download the mobile ‘Wollongong Waste App’ available on Apple and Android online stores for the latest on all waste events and bin reminders.

For more bushfire information, The Rural Fire Service (RFS) Bush fire survival plan website has tips on preparing your home for the bushfire season.

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