NORTHERN Grampians Shire residents were left baffled after a letterbox-dropped flyer insinuated the state government was charging a bin tax via council rates.
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Flyers from Member for Ripon Louise Staley's office, with the headline "Victoria's recycling disaster", also argued that the state government was "not fixing" the recycling crisis.
"Recyclables are going to landfill because of the Andrews government's inaction. The Andrews government is charging you a bin tax via your council rates but not fixing the recycling crisis," the flyer says.
The flyer also calls on residents to answer a series of questions and return it to Ms Staley's office in Maryborough.
Northern Grampians Shire Council issued a statement to residents via social media, to, "reassure the community that their recycling is NOT going into landfill (our recycling is processed by VISY, not SKM) and that we also don't charge a 'bin tax' through our council rates."
Residents are charged $467 a year for a 120L waste bin and 240L recycling bin.
The charges include kerbside collection of bins, the management of the three transfer stations, public litter bins and events assistance.
Mayor Kevin Erwin confirmed residents were not impacted by any recycling issues or bin tax.
"I haven't seen the leaflet as yet. I have heard they are around," he said.
"Although it doesn't directly impact our council, it impacts many others.
"As Australians, we're good at collecting recycling but don't do much with it afterwards."
Ms Staley said the flyers drew attention to a statewide problem and didn't name individual councils.
"There is a crisis in Victoria in terms of recycling and that is the issue I am bringing the attention of my constituents and seeking their feedback on," she said.
"If you have recycling, you are paying a recycling levy.
"Sometimes the council don't break down that charge, but there is still a levy you pay to divert material away."
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