Bathurst Regional Council has confirmed a third bin will be added to each home’s collection service, designed specifically for organic food scraps and garden waste.

It comes after council audits found that up to 60 per cent of the rubbish thrown out in households’ general waste each week could actually be composted if the service was available.

And most residents would welcome the chance to keep organic waste from going to landfill – as long as the price is right.

Council is in negotiations for a new waste collection contract to come into effect next year but those negotiations will be conducted with each household’s cash.

Because, rest assured, whatever it costs council to provide the extra bin service will be added to your rates bill next year – whether you want the new bin or not.

And that’s where the scheme could quickly lose support.

The local family of mum, dad and three or four kids would have no trouble filling a green waste bin each week, particularly during summer when the lawnmower is running each weekend.

But couples and single people, particularly the elderly, would already be putting out a near-empty bin each week and they won’t be thrilled about being charged extra to put out two near-empty bins instead.

There has been a mixed response from our readers whenever we’ve asked whether they want a third bin, and council would be aware of that.

So the announcement of the new service on Friday was as bold as it was surprising.

And it’s sure to get a reaction – both good and bad.