Warrnambool’s stock of ageing household recycling bins will be replaced over the next six weeks, starting from November 9.
The new yellow-lidded bins will be the same size as the old bins – 240 litres – and will still be collected fortnightly.
Recycling bins will be swapped over the morning after they are emptied. To enable the swap over residents are asked to leave their recycling bin out until the evening after collection.
Warrnambool City Council Acting CEO Vikki King said while some recycling bins might still be in working order, it was more practical to replace all household bins in one effort.
“Many of our existing household recycling bins in Warrnambool are about 20 years old, which is roughly the age at which they start to fail,” Ms King said.
“Each year we replace hundreds of bins that are either broken or missing.
“It’s cheaper in the long run to give everyone a new bin now than to continually replace and deliver bins on an ad hoc basis.
“RFID technology in the new bins will minimise lost and stolen bins and help with reducing recycling contamination by pinpointing contaminated bins.
“The old bins won’t go to waste though. Wheels and axles will be kept for spare parts while the plastic components will be recycled and used to manufacture other products, including new bins.”
The new bins will be made from 30 per cent recycled material.
Each bin will also have a specially designed clip to keep them closed on windy nights, reducing instances of loose material being scattered along the street and into the stormwater system.
Ms King said upgrading all recycling bins was the next step in Council’s kerbside collection overhaul, with dedicated glass-only bins to be rolled out to all households in early 2021 following a successful trial involving more than 3000 properties.
“Warrnambool residents have shown a real commitment to tackling the recycling crisis and waste management challenges,” she said.
“The sorting of waste at household level is what stops material from being sent to landfill.
“In 2019-2020 more than 800 tonnes of food waste that would have otherwise ended up in landfill was composted via the FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) bins.
“This was a win for the environment and allowed us to reduce the waste management charge for each household in 2020-2021.
“Glass only bins are coming in 2021, but it’s important to remember that while it’s ideal to take your glass to the free bottle bank at Cleanaway on Koroit Street if you can, Council’s recycling contractor VISY is still accepting glass for the moment.
“So you can keep putting glass in your yellow-lidded recycling bin until your glass-only bin arrives.”
Properties that have received a new recycling bin in the past year – because they are in a new dwelling or their previous bin was broken or lost – won’t receive a new bin as their current one already has the new technology installed. During the current rollout it will be linked to their address.
Registering a bin to a property, attaching a lid and removing the old bin takes time so the process will be rolled out over a series of recycling bin nights. Householders should contact Council on 5559 4800 if they believe they have missed the bin swap.
