Using the right bin
Key points
- Bin contamination makes the waste service more expensive. It can also result in materials being sent to landfill that could have been put to good use.
- Cardinia Shire residents are generally very committed to disposing of waste correctly and responsibly. However you could be putting the wrong items in a bin, and may not even realise!
- To help you sort your waste correctly and reduce bin contamination, our waste truck drivers are now monitoring what gets collected with the help of new technology in our trucks. You can watch the video here.
- We also have a Good Sort Program to reward "good sorters" and educate householders who have the wrong items in their bins.
What goes in each bin? To find out visit What you can put in your bins
Our A to Z waste guide also tells you how you can dispose of a wide range of items.
Why bin contamination is a problem
When the wrong items go into a particular bin, the bin is contaminated.
Contamination is a problem because it:
- makes the waste service more expensive
- makes sorting materials difficult or impossible
- poses a risk to the workers doing the sorting.
Contamination can result in quality recyclables and green waste being sent to landfill.
Due to recent changes and issues in the recycling industry and increasing landfill prices, it’s more important than ever to make sure we are all sorting our waste correctly.
Top 5 contaminants in recycling bins across Cardinia Shire
- Please don’t put the items below in your bin! To find out how to dispose of these and many other items go to our A to Z waste guide
- A ‘No plastic bags’ sticker will be put on the lids of inspected recycling bins that contain plastic bags or soft plastics.
1. Recyclable items put in plastic bags
Items must be loose, not bagged.
2. Soft plastics
These can go in your rubbish bin but if you can, put them in the RedCycle bins at Coles and Woolworths so they can be used to make new products.
3. Rubbish that should go in the general rubbish (landfill) bin
4. Clothing and textiles
Sell or donate if in good condition. They can go in your rubbish (landfill) bin, but for other more sustainable options visit ‘C’ in the A to Z waste guide
5. Food and garden waste
Compost it, order a food and green waste bin, or use our free drop-off days
New truck technology monitoring waste collected
Cameras and other new technology installed in our waste collection trucks mean that drivers can now monitor what is being collected, and how much of it.
This new technology will help to:
- prevent bin contamination – which is costly for ratepayers as well as the planet
- educate bin users on what can go in each bin
- identify issues such as missed or damaged bins.
How the technology will be used
- Drivers will stop to put educational stickers on bins with obvious issues, such as recycling or green waste bins overflowing with plastic bags or general rubbish.
- Cameras also capture the contents of each bin as it gets collected. Households sorting their waste incorrectly are notified later.
Good Sort Program
- Our waste educators are on the street checking bins before they’re collected, to help you sort your waste correctly.
- Educators give encouragement and rewards to households doing a great job, and constructive feedback about sorting and disposing of waste properly to those who need it.
Rewards for good sorters
- 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.
If your bin is contaminated
- If your bin is inspected and incorrect items are found: We’ll put an orange “Oops!” tag on the lid to let you know which items shouldn't be in there. Please take note so you can make sure the same items aren't placed in that bin again.
- Highly contaminated bins: We will put a red “Oh No” tag, and the bin will only be collected once the contaminated items are removed.
Frequently asked questions
For more information about our Good Sort Program, read our frequently asked questions.