Liam McNally
A Melton mother is calling on council to provide extra bins for free to locals whose ongoing medical conditions result in excess household waste.
Lyla Catanese’s 16-month-old daughter, Sophia, was born with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare condition that causes fragile, blistering skin. The blisters may appear in response to minor injury, even from heat, rubbing or scratching.
In order to protect her skin, Sophia needs to be bandaged every day from neck to toe.
Ms Catanese said that between the bandages, their plastic wrappings and cardboard boxes, this leads to “piles” of extra waste.
“Even hugging a teddy could result in tearing her skin off,” she said.
“With that, there’s a lot of bandages we have to change daily.
“At the end of the week the amount of waste we have is huge. One yellow bin a fortnight simply doesn’t cover it.”
Ms Catanese provided two letters signed by Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) staff, requesting a fee-waiver for an extra general and recycling bin, once in 2022 and once in September.
Each time, council offered an 80 per cent discount on the $340 fee for two extra bins.
Ms Catanese said that with the thousands of dollars being spent on Sophie’s medical bills, the family still couldn’t budget for the discounted rate.
“Our day-to-day life is not a normal life, and when you’ve got these little setbacks… it just brings you down because it’s just another thing that’s not making it easier for us, it’s creating a problem,” she said.
“It worries me because I know the bigger she gets the more waste she’s going to have.”
A carer from RCH said she has seen two patients with EB in nearby Wyndham and Maribyrnong and the councils in those municipalities provide free bins based on letters from the hosptial, and that Melton should consider dong so.
“It takes a village to raise a child, especially one with a condition like EB,” she said.
“The parents need support, and it’s like the local council are letting them down, not supporting them… It’s just a small thing the council can do. Community facilities need to be more accessible by families with need.”
The day after Star Weekly approached council to comment on Ms Catanese’s case, council offered to waive the fee for the extra bins, and are reviewing the standard policy of an 80 per cent discount.
Ms Catanese said it’s a huge relief and she encouraged council to change the policy following the review.
“I’m happy I’ve got my bins but I’m aware there’s a lot of other people in Melton who need the bins for all sorts of different medical conditions. I know it’s just a bin at the end of the day but it’s a weight off your shoulders,” she said.
“I’m disappointed that I’ve had to take it this far to get the result that was needed… Why does it take two letters, an article in the local paper, and going on radio as well?” she said.
