What’s under your lid matters!
Lockyer Valley Regional Council is reminding residents that what’s under their lid isn’t flying under the radar!
With the region currently experiencing the highest contamination of recycling bins ever recorded, Council’s Waste Portfolio Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Cr Jason Cook is reminding all residents their actions have long-term impacts on the community.
“With our landfills reaching capacity, we’re working hard to divert, recover and recycle as much as we can.
“Council’s waste trucks are now smarter, safer, and more efficient, which allows them to track contamination easier.
“Our trucks are fitted with GPS and video cameras, which helps us track every bin we collect, as well as capturing and measuring the type of material that’s inside them,” he said.
Cr Cook said there were many benefits to using this technology in our recycling program, including reducing contamination and sending less waste to landfill.
“Despite most of our region doing the right thing when it comes to recycling, their efforts are being jeopardised by those who blatantly disregard the correct use of bins and are contaminating our recycling streams.
“When you choose to throw items such as soiled nappies in the recycling bin, the entire truck load is at risk of becoming contaminated and ending up in landfill, which in turn wastes both the time and effort of residents who are doing the right thing and adding to the cost of waste management.”
Some common items being incorrectly placed in the recycling bin are:
- Food waste
- Nappies
- Clothing
- Sheets/blankets
- Garden hoses
- Carpet, door mats
- House renovation rubbish
- Plastic oil containers
- Small broken furniture
- Seasonal items such as Christmas lighting/decorations
- Green waste
- Soft toys
- Small whitegoods such as toasters, kettles
- Small E-Waste items such as computer monitors, DVD Players, radios, speakers, electrical leads
- Plastic bags
- Batteries
“Clothing may be dropped at various community drop-off (donation/charity) bins throughout the region, but remember these bins are not for general waste.
“When it comes to recycling, we all need to do the right thing and play our part to help both our environment and the community,” Cr Cook said.
For information on what does and doesn’t belong in your yellow top bin, visit www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/waste
ENDS
