Parkes and Peak Hill residents will be able to have their two free days at the tip any time of the year now with the introduction of a new voucher system.
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Councillors agreed at the July ordinary council meeting to provide two vouchers for up to a trailer-load of domestic waste per household per annum, in lieu of the free tip weekends.
Chair of Parkes Shire Council's Waste Committee, Cr Alan Ward, said the new initiative will allow residents to utilise the waste vouchers at a time that is convenient for them and ease pressure and congestion at the Parkes Waste Facility.
"It will also benefit the facility's operational efficiency, safety and environmental performance, as our staff will be able to better manage the inspection of loads and categorisation of the materials," he said.
Council has previously provided two free tip weekends annually to residents, generally held in April/May and November each year.
The free weekends have proven extremely popular with residents but had increased congestion at the weighbridge, costs of manpower and contractor charges, with council receiving negative feedback on the length of waiting times and unsuitability of the chosen weekend.
The transactions for an average weekend at the Parkes Tip are usually around 150, according to the report tabled at the July 21 meeting. During the free weekends this increases substantially, with 451 recorded in April 2019 and 579 last November.
Peak Hill residents will need to bring their residential waste to Parkes to use their vouchers - a question Cr Louise O'Leary put forward at the meeting - as the Peak Hill transfer station is unable to process this waste.
The annual Kerbside Bulky Goods Collection will still continue each September for Parkes and shire townships.
Two vouchers will be mailed to property owners in Parkes and Peak Hill with the first installment rates notices at the start of each financial year.
They will be valid for one year, expiring on July 31 the following year of issue.
Each waste voucher permits the user to dispose of up to one eligible trailer load of general household waste or uncontaminated green waste at no cost.
To redeem the voucher, council said present it to the weighbridge operators, where it will be recorded in council's records management system.
Eligible loads for residents include domestic mixed waste and organic waste and excludes tyres, white goods, mattresses and gas bottles.
Residents may also redeem two vouchers at once for a double load.
But excess loads not covered by vouchers will be charged at the rates listed under council's fees and charges, which are listed on its website at www.parkes.nsw.gov.au.
Council is encouraging landlords and managing agents to pass the vouchers onto their valued tenants to ensure they can best manage their household wastes and keep the property in good order.
Council said new domestic properties, new owners or new tenants will receive their first waste voucher at the next scheduled mail-out of rates notice in August.
The vouchers are not transferable or redeemable for cash, and cannot be used for the disposal of commercial and industrial waste, and construction and demolition waste (including asbestos).
Council is asking people to make sure they keep their vouchers in a safe place as they cannot be reissued.
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