Elsie Lange
Hume council has updated its free tipping policy for charities, after it was found one unnamed organisation used the policy to the value of about $50,000 in 2021-22.
The policy was reviewed by council after it recently lapsed, with 11 organisations having used it in the past three years – a $5000 annual expenditure limit has now been imposed.
According to a report presented to council at a meeting on Monday, February 13, the changes were only likely to impact one charity, and council was unable to disclose to Star Weekly who the charities were.
“As the organisations using the service haven’t provided approval to disclose their information, we’re unable to provide a list of organisations using the service,” council said.
“In terms of the charity who has used the free disposal available under the Free Tipping for Charitable Organisations policy more than others, council understands this is due to the nature of the organisation’s operations.
“Under the policy, any material disposed of must be produced within Hume … Based on the materials being disposed of, it’s difficult to know where the materials were generated from.”
In the report, council officers said they had attempted to get in touch with the nominated contact for the charity who had used the policy to the value of $50,000 on “numerous occasions” and had written to them requesting contact to discuss policy changes.
Councillor Carly Moore said the policy allows Hume to support local charities doing important work in the community, but “unfortunately they do end up with quite an excessive amount of waste”.
“This is about supporting them and making sure they are able to dispose of that waste at no cost to themselves,” she said.
The report said outside of the change, the policy had been consistent with “current management practice” but administrative amendments were made.
The policy changes are set to be implemented from July 1, 2023.
