Council records highest contamination rate ever

Many of these items could be mistaken as fit for a household recycling bin but they are in fact leading to widespread contamination and forcing the council staff to divert well intentioned loads to land fill.

The Lockyer Valley Regional Council has recorded the largest ever rate of contaminated recycling bins and has pleaded with residents to take more care when filling their wheelie bins.

Lockyer Valley Deputy Mayor Jason Cook said common mistakes 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.

The council has a suite of automated technology to reduce contamination and send 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,” Mr Cook said.

“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.”

“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.

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