Bin Tagging for Better Recycling

The City of Cockburn is committed to reducing waste to landfill, with a goal of zero waste to landfill by 2030 detailed in the Climate Change Strategy.
 
Landfill is the last resort, as landfills release harmful greenhouse gases and are very costly to run. More waste to landfill means greater costs to residents and our planet.
 
To help keep residential rates down, reduce waste to landfill, and protect the environment, the City provides education to residents on reducing waste and recycling. 
 
Through workshops, posters, signage and bin tagging, residents are informed of what can and can't be recycled in the yellow bin, what can go in the green garden bin and how to compost food waste at home. 
 
Garden waste and recyclables need to be correctly sorted so that they can be used again, such as mulch from garden waste or recycled paper from the yellow bin. City staff sort through the garden waste bin to pull out any contamination, so that residents can take away clean, rich mulch. Similarly, the contents of the recycling bin are sorted at Material Recovery Facilities so that a clean stream of recyclable material can be recycled.

The garden waste bin is turned into mulch at the Henderson Waste Recovery Park and is FREE. 

The City has a passionate team of Community Waste Education Officers who are dedicated to educating residents about what can and can't go in each bin. 
 
Bin tagging (bin audits) is an effective way to pass on this message and the City is committed to tagging bins each year for consistent education.
 
Bin tagging runs in each area for up to 8 weeks. In this time, residents will receive either a happy or sad bin tag on each bin. After the first round of bin tagging, highly contaminated bins or those with hazardous material can receive a Cannot Collect bin tag. Contamination is costly and often dangerous for the people having to sort through it later, therefore it is important that this material is taken out.
 
Once the contamination is removed, we will empty the contents of your bin on your next collection day.

More information about the Three Bin System. 

If you are unsure of what items can be placed in your bin, please read the Three bin system A-Z guide or the Two bin system A-Z guide. 

For more information contact the Waste Education Officer on 08 9411 3444 or email.