Perth residents call for return of verge rubbish collectionsBy Emma WynneABC Radio PerthTopic:Recycling and Waste Management1h ago1 hours agoFri 2 May 2025 at 4:50amPeople inspect items left out for verge waste collection. (ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne)In shortLast year the City of Melville, in Perth's south, replaced annual bulk waste collections in favour of offering residents the option to book a pick-up throughout the year.Not all residents are happy, with a petition asking for a return to the old system garnering more than 1,000 signatures.What's next?A local mayor says the council is unlikely to reverse its decision. abc.net.au/news/loss-of-council-bulk-waste-collection-perth-suburbs/105244706Link copiedShareShare articleLast year the City of Melville, in Perth's southern suburbs, moved away from annual verge collections to a model where residents can book their own verge collection once a year at a time of their choosing.Other Perth councils have also adopted similar verge valet and skip bin services in favour of scheduled bulk waste collections in recent years.The council cited convenience and a reduction in streetside mess for the decision, but a petition to overturn the move and return to the old system has garnered more than 1,000 signatures.Started by Palmyra resident Harriet Perryer, the petition cites difficulties in securing bookings, lack of oversight and the loss of community recycling through the opportunity to scavenge items."The scheduled bulk waste collections were more than just a rubbish removal service — they were a community event," Ms Perryer wrote on the petition."Residents could salvage, upcycle, and repurpose items placed on verges before collection, reducing landfill waste and encouraging sustainable practices."A suburban street verge is piled with items for council collection. (ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne)But Melville Mayor Katy Mair told Nadia Mitsopoulos on ABC Radio Perth the council thought the new booked collection system was working well."[Under the old system] we received a lot of complaints from the residents saying their suburbs look like a heap of rubbish for months and months," she said."They complained that when they had visitors from interstate, overseas, or even locally, you know, from other areas of Perth, they complained about how dreadful it looked."Teething problems with bookingsShe said that while each household was only entitled to one collection a year, they could band together with neighbours and access multiple collections a year."If four neighbours get together, they can have four pick-ups a year because, one person can claim a pick-up, then they go to another verge and put their things out and they can claim another pick-up," she said."It's all legitimate and quite acceptable."The petition cites difficulties with the booking system.Ms Mair conceded there had been some issues as residents got used to the new system."Appointments are often booked out weeks or months in advance," the petition said."This is not more convenient than the previous system, where every household was guaranteed a collection at set times."There are calls for a return to annual verge collections. (ABC Radio Perth: Emma Wynne)Ms Mair said there had been a rush on bookings in December, when the old verge collections had previously been held."What was happening is everybody at Christmas time cleans out their house and puts everything on the verge," she said."We realised there's a few teething problems as people get used to the system."Ms Mair said the new system had reduced the waste the council was sending to landfill.She said the system was likely to stay."We're having less things put on the verge," she said."I think people are either repurposing them or getting rid of that material other ways so other people can use it."There is a bit of sentimentality about it, there's no doubt, but at the end of the day, it's a better system."Mess vs traditionListeners to ABC Radio Perth were divided on the issue. Some like the convenience, and tidiness, of the new system, but disliked the volume limits that had been introduced.Aidan: "It's definitely got some improvements. The main thing is you get a letter saying you can only have a certain amount of space for it and a certain amount of time to put it out. So if you work away or you have a couch or something similar size or someone else decides to dump on your property, they won't take it. You're left with waste."Helen: "I live in Bateman. We always had the last pick-up before Christmas. Some years the area was a total mess nearly up to Christmas and people would bring stuff from other suburbs. Last year I walked around in December and admired the lovely clean verges."Catherine: "Berwick Street today looks like a giant rubbish tip. Personalised collection is a better alternative!"Others were staunch supporters of the old fashioned annual collections.Sandy: "I prefer bulk verge collections. It gives people an opportunity to recycle unwanted items that are not good enough to donate but still ok."Graham: "I'm in town of Cambridge and we switched to the 'Verge Valet' system a few years ago. I strongly dislike it, as it seems most other rate payers here do. Having regular bulk collections served as a good prompt to clear out household junk and garden waste twice yearly. It's also hard to book a date that suits me."Penny: "Prefer bulk pick up. We have found useful thìngs on the verge every year. It's recycling! Melville council is quite boring. I love seeing people fossick in my stuff!"Posted 1h ago1 hours agoFri 2 May 2025 at 4:50amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLittle-known entity comparing Dutton to Trump spends more than $400,000 on political Meta adsTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A man in front of a billboard which says "the parties are the problem"Vote Compass data reveals key issues for respondents ahead of electionTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A graphic shows a smartphone screen showing a graph.'It's just a disaster': Motorists describe chaos on M1 after scrap metal spillTopic:Road Accidents and IncidentsPhoto shows A metal shard embedded in a tyreDutton has 'no doubt' Coalition can win this election, as campaigning nears endLIVEPhoto shows Peter Dutton speaks at lectern Erin Patterson sent 'extremely aggressive' texts to estranged husband, court hearsTopic:CourtsPhoto shows A close up photo of Erin Patterson looking over her shoulder wearing glases.Related storiesMattresses are piling up on the streets of this WA town — and the council has had enoughTopic:Recycling and Waste ManagementPhoto shows A pile of three matresses on a suburban streetAre Perth councils' kerbside waste collections headed for the scrap heap?Topic:Local GovernmentPhoto shows Sofa, cardboard boxes, tree, easel on verge for collection.Related topicsLocal GovernmentMelvillePerthRecycling and Waste ManagementTop StoriesLittle-known entity comparing Dutton to Trump spends more than $400,000 on political Meta adsTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A man in front of a billboard which says "the parties are the problem"Vote Compass data reveals key issues for respondents ahead of electionTopic:Australian Federal Elections'It's just a disaster': Motorists describe chaos on M1 after scrap metal spillTopic:Road Accidents and IncidentsDutton has 'no doubt' Coalition can win this election, as campaigning nears endTopic:Government and PoliticsErin Patterson sent 'extremely aggressive' texts to estranged husband, court hearsTopic:CourtsJust InCosts and cancellations adding up for fed-up flyers in regional SATopic:Air Transport Industry7m ago7 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 6:20amSnowtown killer's parole bid 'slap in the face', says nephew of victimTopic:Homicide23m ago23 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 6:04amOne Nation staffer reported to corruption watchdog over referrals to law firmTopic:Federal Government34m ago34 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 5:53amHeritage-listed prison building set to become independent schoolTopic:Secondary Education7m ago7 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 6:20amMore Just InBack to top