When I heard about Councillor Matt Stellino’s idea to put latches on Campbelltown’s waste and recycling bins my first thought was: surely that will be a problem when they are collected by the garbage trucks.
But after talking to him about his notice of motion that will go before the council next week, it’s obvious the Animal Justice Party councillor has thought this through.
“When the truck picks up one of these bins the latch is designed to pop open, allowing the contents to be emptied,’’ he tells the South West Voice when we talk over the phone yesterday.
Cr Stellino says the latches will stop white cockatoos from filling our residential streets and drains with plastic waste.
However, he stresses introducing latches to bins is not just about protecting the environment.
“Nobody likes to come home and find the rubbish strewn all over the street after the cockatoos have been through the bins,’’ he says.
Cr Stellino says he has watched the cockatoos at work on bins out in the street.
“They never seem to touch the green waste bin, it’s always the recycling and general waste bins,’’ he said.
“The cockatoos have a way of lifting the lid of the bin and diving inside.
“There’s always a few of them so they make quite a mess with the plastic waste.
“Which of course ends up in the drains.
“The way I see it is that we have a problem here, both an environmental one and an aesthetic one, and we can fix it with these latches.
“Using the latches is one of my ideas that I campaigned on during the election last year,’’ Cr Stellino said.
He said councils in Liverpool and Kiama have already introduced the bin latches in their garbage collection systems.
His notice of motion, which will be debated at next Tuesday night’s Campbelltown City Council meeting, reads:
“Councillor Matt Stellino has given notice in writing of his intention to move the following motion at the next meeting of Council on 14 June 2022.
“That council include the requirement for bin lid latches to be fitted to domestic waste and recycling bins as part of the upcoming Domestic Waste Tender 2024.’’
This is such a simple, low cost and effective solution. Especially if it’s already been implemented successfully in 2 other councils. It will also of course help mitigate any animosity towards these gorgeous and very clever birds. Well thought out councillor Matt Stellino!! What an asset you are proving to be already.
This is a great idea.
Will lead to reduced costs for council and better health of the environment and animal health.
What a great initiative Cr Stilleno.
It fixes so many issues; like the mess the birds make, ensures all the rubbish goes where it is intended to go, and keeps the cockatoos from accidentally eating something that could be harmful to them. Well done.
Great idea Cr. Stilleno. As stated above, it will stop the cockatoos from making a mess and accidentally ingesting something harmful while also protecting other native fauna and the environment. The other positive is it will lessen the free feeds for foxes and feral cats in the area and ensure people must keep their bins closed and not et them overflow.