GAWLER Council is set to continue providing a hard waste service to residents, after more than 950 collections were provided last year.

At an Infrastructure and Environmental Services (IES) Committee meeting last month, elected members voted to submit a $120,000 budget bid to conduct around 1530 hard waste pickups for residents next financial year.

The hard waste service is set to be funded by an increase in council’s Waste Management Service charge.

A report presented at the IES meeting stated council has conducted 956 hard waste pickups since July last year, costing council $61,848.

During the meeting, councillor Ian Tooley said it was a “continuation of some good work”.

“We haven’t been overwhelmed to the point that it’s become a cost burden,” he said.

“I’m really pleased that we recognise a local company in Eco Waste (Solutions) is definitely in the mix.

“I think supporting a local business like that is very important.”

Of the 956 services, 67 per cent were via at the premises collection, with the other 33 per cent choosing to take their hard rubbish to either Eco Waste Solutions at Willaston or the Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority depot at Edinburgh North.

In the 2020/21 financial year, each hard waste pickup is set to cost council $78.50, a $10.50 increase from last year due to the State Government’s solid waste levy hike.

The solid waste levy imposed on councils has jumped from $52 a tonne in 2014/15 to $140 per tonne this financial year.