City of Canning Shoots Down Communal Skip Bin Proposal
City of Canning officers have firmly rejected a proposal from residents for communal suburban skip bins, citing concerns that such bins could become magnets for illegal dumping. The recommendation comes after the city's annual general meeting of electors on January 29 voted to investigate placing skip bins in Bentley to combat illegal dumping.
Resident Advocacy and Officer Concerns
Bentley resident Fiona Hillary argued that communal skip bins could save the city money by reducing the frequency of pick-ups when rubbish is dumped on verges or other areas. However, city officers have advised the council not to support this idea, warning in a report that it could legalise and legitimise illegal dumping.
The report stated: "It essentially legalises and legitimises illegal dumping, with every skip bin site becoming a 'quasi' rubbish tip or waste transfer station." Officers expressed concerns that unattended skips on open city-owned land would remove ownership boundaries and behavioural controls, increasing risks of misuse, commercial dumping, and cross-boundary waste importation.
Current Waste Services and Data
The report highlighted that the City of Canning already provides a range of waste services, including:
- Two free bulk skip bin collections per year
- One free bulky item collection annually
- Two free tip passes
- Free recycling drop-off points
It noted that many items commonly associated with illegal dumping, such as mattresses, furniture, and whitegoods, are collected free of charge when residents use these services appropriately. Since 2023, illegal dumping reports in Bentley have decreased by 21%, and littering has dropped by about a quarter, despite various undeveloped open spaces in the area historically providing locations for dumping.
Financial and Operational Implications
Officers warned that while the proposal aims to reduce costs through decreased dumping, it could lead to increased servicing frequency, higher contamination rates, greater landfill expenditure, and elevated compliance and safety costs. Property owners currently pay a $420 waste services charge, but the report estimated the value of the city's waste services at over $2000.
As an alternative, officers have suggested a public education campaign targeting Bentley to encourage residents to utilise existing waste services more effectively. The council is scheduled to consider this recommendation at its meeting on March 17.
