The veil of silence has been lifted slightly following Tuesday's story about the lack of information for Bellingen, Nambucca and Coffs Harbour City ratepayers regarding their expensive red bin waste problem.
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The issue arose back in October 2018 when the EPA called a halt to the application of Mixed Waste Organic Outputs (MWOO) to agricultural land due to risks associated with chemical and physical contaminants.
MWOO is the end product of red bin waste, our household rubbish. Its organic components were being processed and sold for agricultural use at the Biomass plant in Coffs Harbour for years, with the encouragement and support of previous state governments.
The sudden shift saw the waste from the three shires being trucked, at great expense, to landfill, in Tamworth ... an unaffordable and undesirable state of affairs.
On Wednesday afternoon, Director of Sustainable Infrastructure for Coffs Harbour City Council, Mick Raby, said he had received limited clearance to discuss the mediated solution between Coffs Harbour City Council and Biomass Solutions (which up until now has remained commerical-in-confidence) with the general managers of Bellingen and Nambucca.
"This means I can now openly converse with our two partner councils and get down to the serious business of what our options are for the future disposal of our red bin waste," Mr Raby said.
With six and a half years remaining on the contract with Biomass Solutions, Mr Raby said the state government policy change back in 2018 would result in an additional 11,000 tonnes of rubbish going to landfill, at a cost of $18 million split between the three councils.
"That includes the $206/tonne, which covers transport and gate fees for the rubbish to be dumped out at Tamworth and the additional $82/tonne Section 88 landfill levy (or tax if you prefer) we have to pay to the state government.
"While that levy is currently waived, it is only until March 21, 2021 - the state government then stands to make $6 million from then until 2027.
"Clearly this is unaffordable and we have to find another option to reduce the cost to the three councils."
One option, Mr Raby said, was to see if a cheaper way to process the waste could be found.
"But what we'll really be looking for is some relief from the state government - we don't believe this cost should fall to the ratepayers."