It doesn't seem like it was just over a year ago that that each household was delivered a new green-lidded bin to collect food scraps and garden waste.

While most in the community welcomed the move, a vocal minority loudly objected to the compulsory introduction of the service – along with the compulsory increase in their household waste charge.

There were also grave confirms about odour from the organic waste while some homes simply did not want another bin.

Just over a year later, though, most – not all – of those objecting voices have been silenced.

The experience of most households has been that separating out organic waste has been no more onerous than separating their plastic bottles, newspapers and glass jars as they have already been doing for years.

More importantly, a report to council has now revealed that more than 7000 tonnes of recyclables and organic waste has been diverted from landfill in the first 13 months of the new waste collection contract.

It’s impossible to imagine that amount of waste, but it equates to more than 150kg for every man, woman and child in our region.

That is also waste that has been diverted from the Bathurst Waste Management Centre which all helps in extending the life of the tip.

Even better, the report to council noted Bathurst had received significant grant funding of more than $787,000 provided by the NSW Environment Protection Agency through its Waste Less Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.

This funding has helped keep down the costs of providing the food and garden waste service for local ratepayers but, of course, some will never be satisfied.

At the end of the day, though, council is charged with making decisions for the good of the region and for the benefit of residents.

Introducing a green waste service on an opt-in or opt-out basis would have significantly reduced its impact while also greatly adding to the scheme’s administration costs.

If people choose not to use the service, that’s up to them. But just as people who don’t use the library can’t get a refund and people who don’t go to the pool can’t claim back part of their rates, people who don’t use the green waste service must still be charged for it.