City of Sydney residents can book a free pick-up for their old mattresses, after a new tender was accepted for the popular recycling service to continue in the battle against illegal dumping.
The new contract is a joint venture with other local government areas as part of the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC).
City residents have had access to a free mattress collection service since 2012.
The mattresses are taken to a central recycling centre where they are broken down. Steel springs become scrap metal, the foam used as carpet underlay and fabric and felt pads recycled into boxing bags.
Last year the City collected 18,412 mattresses.
“The City offers a range of free pick up services including for bulky waste, whitegoods and mattresses – so there is no excuse for illegal rubbish dumping,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
Residents can book the service 52 times per year online at bookafreepickup.com or by calling the City directly on 02 9265 9333.
More than 13,000 tonnes of bulky waste has been collected as part of the free weekly clean-up service over the last three years.
However, illegal dumping remains a major issue across the City of Sydney and cleansing and waste staff have cleaned up another 13,000 tonnes of illegally dumped waste over the same period.
City rangers monitor illegal dumping hot spots and issued more than 1,145 penalty and warnings notices for illegal dumping in 2017.
To reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and discourage illegal dumping, the City will introduce new waste services in 2019, including:
- a food waste collection trial
- a textile recycling collection trial
- a kerbside e-waste collection
- a community recycling centre.
For media inquiries or images, contact Alex Cauchi. Phone mobile 0467 803 815 or email acauchi@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Jack Begbie. Phone 0481 759 580 or email jbegbie@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au