Three bins for kerbside collection increases recycling

Thursday, 15 September 2016

• ​More waste recovery in areas that use three bins
• $15.4 million available to local councils to invest in the Better Bins program

Local councils which use three rubbish bins for household kerbside collections are recovering much more waste for recycling than those with two bins, new research has found.

The results are in the Local Government Waste and Recycling Census 2014-15, published by the Waste Authority.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said local councils which participated in the Liberal National Government's Better Bins pilot program had recovered 42 per cent of waste from all three bins compared with those councils with two bins, which recovered only 22 per cent.

"The difference in recycling rates shows use of a third bin for green waste clearly produced better results," Mr Jacob said.  "When it's easier for households to recycle green waste, such as garden clippings, recovering other waste products improved as well.

"Better Bins gives local councils better kerbside services that contribute to achieving the State's recycling targets and reduce their exposure to increasing landfill costs.

"The justification for investing in this setup is clear with the impact of using a third bin.  This is an encouraging result and I hope more local councils will roll out the three bin system."

The State Government has $15.4 million available for more local councils to roll out Better Bins based on the success of the pilot program in the cities of Bayswater, Rockingham and Stirling; towns of Cambridge and Cottesloe; and the shires of Capel, Collie and Donnybrook-Balingup.

The recovery rate for municipal solid waste in the Perth metropolitan region has remained at about 40 per cent in recent years.  Efficient use of the three bin systems across Australia has achieved a recovery rate of 50 per cent, or more than 60 per cent if food organics are included.

With Better Bins, general waste goes in a bin with a red lid, co-mingled recycling goes in a yellow lid bin, and green or organic waste is collected in a lime-green lid bin.  This makes it easier for waste processors to recover resources and helps prevent cross contamination.

Fact File

• In 2014-15, local councils recovered 489,000 tonnes of domestic waste
• With Better Bins, 95% of green waste material collected with kerbside services was recovered
• Find the census report at http://www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au, along with the guidelines to apply for Better Bins funding