Adelaide councils explain rules behind bin pick up fines

A western suburbs council has sent out more than 20 fines to locals who left their bins out too long. So what are the rules in your council area?

A western suburbs council has issued more than 20 fines to locals who left their bins out for lengthy periods while a growing number of councils are bringing in penalties for the misdemeanour.

Charles Sturt Council has cautioned locals on 18 occasions and sent out 21 fines of $312.50 in the 2023/24 financial year to those who failed to bring in their bins in a timely manner.

Chief executive Paul Sutton said council encouraged the community to “do the right thing by their neighbours” and bring in their bins from the street within 24 hours after collection but will issue an expiation “as a very last resort”.

“We respond based on community complaints and notifications with initial responses being to educate and encourage,” he said.

The Advertiser has learned that a patchwork of rules exist around bin retrieval across the city after Port Adelaide Enfield Council said it could fine residents $312.50 if they fail to listen to warnings and continue to leave their bins out for too long.

A number of councils around Adelaide can fine residents up to $312.50 for leaving their bins out too long. Picture: Dean Martin

Councils who issue fines say this is a “last resort” that is rarely enforced, with expiations only sent out after an education approach and repeated warnings. Furthermore, they say they take action in response to complaints.

However, an increasing number of councils are introducing or putting up fines to deal with residents who leave their bins out too long.

Playford Council introduced a waste-management by-law in 2022 in response to ongoing community feedback. Since then, it has issued seven fines, which are set at $312.50.

“Council does not proactively monitor residents and only responds to community concerns and complaints, where bins may cause issues of safety and accessibility in streets and neighbourhoods, such as blocking driveways or footpaths, or creating unsanitary conditions,” the spokesperson said.

Onkaparinga Council introduced new rules to manage the issue last year.

A spokesperson said residents and businesses are asked to remove bins from the verge within 24 hours of collection but if they fail to do so for more than 72 hours, they could be hit with a $187 fine. It has not issued any fines since the requirement was introduced in 2023.

Meanwhile, Burnside Council has increased its fine for the offence from $187.50 to $312.50 in recent years.

Acting chief executive Martin Cooper said council has only issued one fine and five cautions all in relation to the same group of shops back in 2020, when the fine was $187.50.

LGA South Australia chief executive Clinton Jury said such by-laws “are about common sense”.

“They’re in place so bins aren’t left out on kerbsides for weeks or months on end, cluttering streets, blocking driveways or creating footpath hazards,” he said.

But not all councils penalise residents for leaving their bins out too long, a number of them telling The Advertiser they did not issue fines for this.

Among them were Adelaide Hills and Marion Council, a spokesperson stating this was not an offence under any Marion Council by-law.

Originally published as Adelaide councils explain rules behind bin pick up fines