By Laura Michell
A trial Hume taskforce working to reduce dumped rubbish in 12 suburbs will be extended citywide and become a permanent program after council’s clean-up costs reduced for the first time in years.
Hume council launched its waste response program in October 2023. The program was initially approved to work in the 12 Hume suburbs with the highest incidences of dumped rubbish until January 30, 2026.
But during a council meeting on Monday, March 25, councillors voted to extend the program to all of the city’s 26 suburbs and make it a permanent resource based on its “fantastic” success to date.
A report to the council meeting stated that in the past 12 months, the waste response team has attended to 5665 requests within the 12 target suburbs. Of those, 4727 were resolved – an 83 per cent success rate.
The report revealed that in 2021-22, council spent $4 million responding to and cleaning up litter and illegal dumping, rising to $4.7 million in 2022-23.
Clean-up costs fell to $4.3 million (including the cost of the program) in 2023-24, the report stated.
When the waste response team comes across dumped rubbish, it checks for a hard waste booking, chats with property owners and neighbours about the waste disposal services available in Hume, tapes off the rubbish and encourages people to take responsibility for the waste.
It then refers evidence to council’s city safety team for further investigation and enforcement if needed.
Cr Naim Kurt said the program was the first of its kind in Victoria and needed to be expanded citywide as it was helping to shift attitudes towards rubbish dumping.
“After just one year the impact has been clear,” he said.
“In 86 per cent of cases, residents have been taking ownership of their waste … and used hard rubbish collection services.
“Every time a resident properly disposes of their waste instead of council stepping in, it saves our council $427.”
Cr Kate Hamley said the program showed the benefits of educating the community instead of punishing people straight away.
“An 83 per cent success rate is pretty fantastic,” she said.
