Bin stickers will be rolled out over four weeks from mid-July to help Noosa households sort their recyclables from their general rubbish.
“Residents have told us the best way for us to improve recycling is to provide details about what can and can’t go into the recycling bin, on the bin,” Council’s Waste and Resource Recovery Manager Kyrone Dodd said.
“So we’re answering that call.”
The stickers also include details about Council’s handy Recycle Mate app and a QR code linking to the recycling chatbot on Council’s website.
With Council’s online chatbot residents can simply type in what item they want to recycle or no longer need, for a list of local options to either recycle the item or donate it for repair and reuse.
A new feature of the Recycle Mate phone app is bin night notifications where it will send you a reminder which bins you should wheel out.
The new bin stickers are made from UV-resistant material designed to withstand the harsh outdoors.
This initiative is supported by the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund.
“To make sure everyone’s bin gets a sticker, we’re asking residents to ensure their recycling bins are left out ready for collection on their normal recycling bin days between mid-July and mid-August, even if not full.
“Recycling plays a crucial role in keeping materials in circulation and reducing the need for new raw materials. While it’s best to refuse, reduce, and reuse first, recycling helps conserve natural resources and minimises landfill waste so it’s important we all know how to do it,” Mr Dodd said.
“In 2023/24 we emptied more than 1.4 million recycling bins, with our shire’s waste diversion rate sitting around 52 per cent currently – that’s 44,996 tonnes of recyclable material kept out of landfill.
“As a community we’re doing well at recycling, but there is always room for improvement.
“We had a contamination rate of around 8 per cent at our last bin audit back in 2023. With these stickers to help households better sort their waste we hope to reduce that contamination figure.”
Noosa’s recycling bin contents are sent to the Re.Group materials recovery facility in Nambour for sorting before being recycled into new products.
Residents can obtain the A-Z Recycling Guide from Council’s website, or by contacting Council for a hard copy.
If your bin is missed during the sticker application, crews will be returning to do a follow up service. If you have not received a sticker by mid-August phone Council on 5329 6500 to have one mailed to you.
For those who find their 240-litre recycling bin fills up too quickly, you can upgrade to a 360-litre bin for an additional fee. Request this service through Council’s online waste request form or phone 5329 6500.
