Bin tagging program
We’re keen recyclers in Moorabool – last year we recycled more than 3,000 tonnes!
Unfortunately – our contamination levels are much higher than the state average. Contamination means putting the wrong item in your yellow lidded bin. Contamination is costly – Council pays a fee to dispose of contaminated recycling to landfill. Our Bin Tagging Program will provide direct feedback to residents about what belongs in the recycling bin. We’ll be checking recycling bins for incorrect items and leave a tag on the bin to let you know how to improve.
Click here to view enlarged image: Bin-tags_1.png(PNG, 839KB)
What is Bin Tagging?
Bin tagging is a way for us to give direct feedback to households about recycling. Our program aims to improve recycling habits at the household level via an educational bin tag. On collection day, Council’s inspectors will take a quick look in your recycling bin. A green, amber or red tag will be put on the bin depending on what is observed.
Green Tag: Well done! No contamination observed. You have gone in the running for a $50 gift voucher at a local business.
Amber Tag: Some contamination observed - room for improvement.
Red Tag: Severely contaminated bin. Please remove all incorrect items listed on the tag. Your bin will be emptied on your next scheduled collection day once all contaminants are removed.
Why is the program being undertaken?
Recycling is a shared responsibility. Knowing what can be recycled means less goes to landfill and we reduce processing costs. Moorabool’s contamination rates are much higher than the state average. At the last audit – 25% of all our recycling was contamination. This means one quarter of our recycling is sent to landfill. Contamination is costly – Council pays a fee to dispose of contaminated recycling.It only takes one highly contaminated bin to send the whole recycling truck load to landfill. The higher the contamination rates are, the higher the charge for recycling services will be.
What do you look for when you inspect the bins?
The inspectors will be looking for contamination in the bins. The most common contaminants in Moorabool’s bins are:
Recyclables in bags – Recyclables must be loose in the recycling bin – never in plastic bags. Our recycling facility does not open bags for safety reasons - any bagged recyclable material ends up in landfill.
Nappies, food and green waste – These items don’t belong in the recycling bin - they contaminate clean recyclables. Your entire bin of recyclables will end up in landfill as a result.
Soft Plastics and Plastic Bags – These get tangled in the machinery at the sorting facility. They also mix with paper and cardboard meaning less chance of materials being onsold for reprocessing. Instead, take soft plastics to REDcycle Bin at your nearest participating supermarket.
Electronic items such as TV’s and computers –These items are recyclable, but not through your home recycling bin. Take your electronic items to your nearest transfer station Hazardous items such as batteries and globes – These items are recyclable, but not through your home recycling bin. Take your household batteries and globes to your nearest transfer station.
Dirty or full containers - Rinse containers before placing them into your recycling bin. Make sure no food or liquids are in bottles or containers. When the truck collects recycling, it compacts all the materials. Any food or liquids will seep into paper and cardboard and contaminate it.
Lids – Remove lids from plastic bottles and place into your red lidded garbage bin. Steel lids from glass jars can be recycled if collected in a steel can (e.g. baked beans can) and the can squashed closed and put in the recycling bin.
What can I put in my recycling bin?
Your recycling bin is for food and drink containers and some household packaging.
- Glass bottles and jars. Top tip: Take off lids collect in a steel can, squash closed then put in recycling bin
- Hard plastic bottles and containers numbered #1 - #5. Top tip: take off lids and put into red lid garbage bin
- Steel and aluminium cans (including empty aerosol cans). Clean aluminium foil bunched to the size of a tennis ball.
- Paper and cardboard. No waxed paper/cardboard.
What about my privacy?
Inspectors will not be looking at residents personal information. They are quickly checking bins to ensure correct contents. If you are concerned about your privacy – shred sensitive documents before placing into the appropriate bin.
What information is recorded, and how is it used?
Our inspectors will record details of any contamination present and the level of contamination. Community results will be reported, not individual households. Information gathered though this program will guide our future recycling education programs.
What happens if households keep putting the wrong items in the bin?
Most people try to do the right thing when it comes to recycling if they have the correct information. Our program will focus on education, rather than enforcement. Bins will be inspected on three occasions. If your bin is contaminated each time - a red tag will be placed on your bin. You will need to remove the contaminants listed on the tag before you put your bin out for the next scheduled collection day. No fines for incorrect use of the recycling bin will be issued.
How are areas selected for the program?
Streets within the Shire will be randomly selected. We aim to inspect streets in most of our urban and rural localities. Each property within selected areas will be inspected three times over an eight-week period.