Toowoomba residents overwhelmingly reject council plan for smaller general waste bins

Your say: Toowoomba residents have had their say on the council’s plans to encouraging smaller general waste bins to reduce landfill costs. VOTE ON OUR POLL:

Would you switch to a smaller red bin? Most Toowoomba residents say no.

Toowoomba residents have made their feelings clear about the council’s plans to further encourage new kerbside bin sizes, calling it “impractical” for many families.

Data from November’s council meetings revealed just one household out nearly 72,000 across the entire region had taken up the offer of both upgrading its recycling bin and downsizing its general waste bin, more than two years after new sizes were introduced.

Landfill waste is expected to weigh down the council financially in the coming years, with the 43,200 tonnes of expected general rubbish from Toowoomba homes this financial year to be potentially $8.8m in state government levy and operational costs.

This has prompted the TRC to encourage residents to divert more than half of their waste from the red bin to the recycling and green bins (which has been shown to be possible), with different sizes being promoted as an option.

Households can either opt for a 360L yellow-lidded bin and/or drop their general waste bin to 140L.

However, a non-scientific poll of more than 3100 Chronicle readers on social media found more than 92 per cent would not consider switching to a smaller general waste bin.

Many readers said such a move must be reflected in their rates.

The TRC’s own projections suggest such a move would cost $16m for the entire region.

There was also a degree of scepticism from locals over whether the practice would lead to perfectly-functioning full-sized red bins being sent to landfill, while others said it was not a practical for households with many people.

Residents should expect to hear from council in 2026 about getting feedback on potential changes to bin sizes.

Councillor Melissa Taylor, who has been a passionate advocate of better waste management strategies, said the TRC was currently reviewing its waste strategy that could open the door to introducing even more bins for different types of waste.

Here’s what you said below:

Need for financial fairness

Stephen Botting

Well, if they want to cut my bin size, they will have to cut my bin rates I pay to council Simple as that.

Carmel Greenwood

If we move to smaller bins will this be reflected in council rates as a reduction??? Or how about let the rate payer choose their bin sizes and pay the rates accordingly.

John Hunter

Give a smaller red bin and more goes in the yellow bin. Unless a significant reduction in rates of offered.

Xuân Nguyễn Vjarn

Do we pay smaller fees?

Jason Hall

Are they going to reduce our shire rates lol.

Where’s the family practicality?

Kristy Bruni

Not with 2 in nappies.

Greg Mccann

A normal family over fills a bin every week so to have a smaller one would need 2 to 3 pick ups a week.

Emma Walk

The 1 to 2 person household says yes I want a small bin and the families say they need a big bin! It’s better to have too much room in your bin than not enough!

Caitlin Rushworth

No! when you’ve got 3 kids and nappies are filling up majority of your bin.

Leigh Simari

Mate we have 6 people in our house, no way.

What about the old bins?

James Bazzo

Help the environment by replacing a perfectly good bin with another bin smaller which has to be produced in high quantities wouldn’t it make sense to just keep your original?

Emma Walk

It won’t help the environment making it smaller, people who have lots of general waste will end up putting it in the green or yellow bin (or worse dump bags on side of roads etc).

Darren Ramm

How is swapping to a smaller bin help the environment. Wouldn’t just keeping the one you have therefore not producing more plastic bins be better.

Ruth Darlington

Consider cost to landfill of all the redundant bins.

Eric Schneider

To help the environment. So when the Yellow bin is full all the recycling goes into landfill or a rubbish bag on the dimly lit street.

Originally published as Toowoomba residents overwhelmingly reject council plan for smaller general waste bins