Good Sort Program
About
Sorting your household waste correctly helps us recover and recycle valuable resources.
When the wrong items go in a particular bin, it causes environmental and financial loss of resources.
Our Good Sort Program helps us to provide direct feedback on your waste sorting behaviour.
Our waste educators are on the street checking bins before they’re collected, giving encouragement and rewards to households with correct sorting and information for those with incorrect items.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bin contamination and why is it a problem?
Bin contamination occurs when the wrong items are placed in your household bins.
Bin contamination is problematic because:
- it increases recycling and waste disposal costs
- it damages machinery or causes fire in waste trucks putting staff and our community at risk
- it reduces the quality of recycling material
- in extreme cases, recycling or green waste is sent to landfill.
How can I recycle properly and become a “good sort”?
Refresh your knowledge and get familiar with what items go in each of your household bins:
What do I get for being a “good sort”?
- Households sorting their waste correctly are rewarded with a green ‘Thanks for being a good sort!’ tag on their inspected bin.
- Recipients of a green tag go in the draw to win a weekly gift voucher worth $20.
Why do I have a tag on my bin?
Our waste educators provide direct feedback in the form of bin tags to the residents about what belongs in your bin.
- If no contamination is found, bins will receive a green “Thanks for being a good sort!” tag
- Minor contaminated bins will receive an orange “Oops!” tag
- Highly contaminated bins will receive a red “Oh no!” tag
The tag on your lid will let you know which items shouldn't be in your bin. Please take note so you can make sure the same items aren't placed in that bin again.
What should I do if my bin has a red tag and hasn’t been collected?
Highly contaminated bins will receive a red tag. Remove all the contamination and call us on 1300 787 624 to arrange a collection or wait until your next collection day to have your bin emptied.
Will I be fined for contaminating my bin?
Residents do not get fined for contaminated bins, however, in some cases, we might not be able to collect the bin until the incorrect items are removed.
What happens when my bin is inspected?
Waste educators perform a quick visual inspection of your bin. Council-owned bins are only inspected when they are out for collection.
Waste educators are highly trained professionals and always carry identification which can be asked by the residents.
Waste educators do not take any items from your bins.
Which bin do the bin tags go in?
Bin tags are made from recycled paper and can go in your recycling bin.
Someone else put incorrect items in my bin?
As per local law 17, section 30.2, a person must not deposit refuse or other matter in a bin supplied by Council to any dwelling or land of which the person is not resident.
If you know who is using your bins without permission, please notify us and we can make them aware of the above local law.