Recycling is not due to commence until March 2025, so for now please continue with the current wet and dry waste separation.  Council will be sure to alert all residents of the exact changeover date so you're aware of when to switch to recycling and mixed waste separation.

Yes - your bin day will be the same for now.  However, the time that your bins are collected may change.  Please make sure you place your bins on the kerb before 6am on your bin day, or even better the evening prior to ensure your collection isn't missed.

Under Council's previous waste separation and processing system of 'wet/dry' waste, it was feasibe to use one dual-storage truck to empty bins.  As we prepare for kerbside recycling in 2025,  separate trucks will be required for this service which is why you'll notice your wet and dry bins being emptied separately for now.

This change is scheduled to happen in March 2025 (pending delays). 

No, you will still have two bins under the new service.  To minimise wastage and costs of replacing bins, Council intendds to replace the current ‘dry waste’ bin lid with a yellow lid.

All residents with a basic service will still have two bins after the changeover.  Yellow lidded ‘recycling’ and a red lidded ‘mixed general waste’ bin. 

Our region will move in line with other regions across Australia following this change and will no longer sort rubbish into wet and dry waste, but rather recycled goods and mixed waste. The date of this change is yet to be confirmed and is pending a finalised contract.

Only recyclable items should go in the yellow bin such as:

• Hard plastic bottles and containers as specified (remove plastic lids and place into your mixed waste bin)
• Steel and aluminium cans
• Glass bottles and jars
• Paper and cardboard

For a full list of items and further advice go to: www.cairns.qld.gov.au/water-waste-roads/waste-and-recycling/what-happens-to-my-waste/recycle-right

Or watch this video: Keep Recycling out of Waste

Waste that cannot be recycled may be placed into the ‘mixed general waste’ bin, however Council provides many options to dispose of unwanted items; it often doesn’t have to go into your waste and recycling bins at all.  For the A-Z Waste Disposal Guide go to: www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/waste-search-guide

Recycling will be transported to the Cairns Regional Council Materials Recovery facility.

All mixed general waste will be transported to the Springmount landfill near Mareeba (where our current wet waste is transported).

That’s correct.  Council will continue to operate some landfill sites for items that are not collected via the kerbside collection. Gradually these landfills will be closed once they reach their limits, and no new landfills will be open. Our future focus is on diversion from land fill and increased recycling.

We are lucky to live in two World Heritage Areas; the Great Barrier Reef on our doorstep and the Wet Tropics area in our backyard. This means that how we deal with waste is different because of the sensitive ecosystem. To protect our greatest resources, all our wet (Putrescible) and mixed waste must go to a landfill site outside the region. This is a condition of our landfill license, issued by the QLD State Government to protect surface water and groundwater from  landfill waste water (leachate) levels. 

Yes.  Council encourages all residents to utilise this existing and local program wherever possible.

All residents should continue to separate waste into ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ until a changeover date has been confirmed.  This is expected to happen within in the financial year 2024/25.

Council will share updates with you in a number of ways. To keep up to date with the latest news, we encourage you to follow our social media channels on Facebook and Instagram, and read our monthly newsletter in the Wet Tropic Times newspaper.  Information will also be made available in Council customer service centres and Cassowary Coast Libraries.  To receive news directly to your inbox, register for our E-Newsletter by visiting yoursay.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/register.

Upon the commencement of a registered property, Council provides the ratepayer with kerbside bins. The kerbside bins then become the responsibility of the rate payer. If the property is leased, bins then become the responsibility of the tenant. 

Should a bin go missing, stolen or damaged due to events other than general wear and tear, a replacement wheelie bin fee may be charged.

To request a new or an additional kerbside bin service, a Change of Kerbside Garbage Service Request Form needs to be submitted to Council by the property owner only.

To request a wheelie bin repair or replacement caused by wear and tear, phone Council's Customer Service on 1300 763 903 and details will be provided to Council’s contractor, Cleanaway who will provide that service.

Download - Change of Kerbside Garbage Service Request Form

To request a cancellation of a wheelie bin service, a Change of Kerbside Garbage Service Request Form needs to be submitted to Council. Upon approval of cancellation of a service, wheelie bins must be presented for collection. If they are not made available for collection, a replacement fee must be paid.

Cancellation of wheelie bin services will only be approved under the following circumstances:

• Request is for cancellation of additional services.
• Cancellation is for a property which has undergone a demolition or house removal.
• Property is located more than 100m from roadside collection point.

Download - Change of Kerbside Garbage Service Request Form

Did you know that your household waste is collected by a garbage truck fitted with a mechanical arm, operated by a single driver from inside the truck?

The driver cannot leave the cabin to correct kerbside bin placement. Which means if your kerbside bin is not placed correctly on the day of collection, your bin will may not be emptied.

To ensure your kerbside bin is emptied, follow these simple guidelines:

• Place your bin/s out prior to bin collection time i.e. the night before or morning of bin collection service and remove from kerbside within 24 hours of bin service. 
• Please place your bins kerbside with the wheels facing the property and clear from any obstructions (e.g. trees, letterboxes, cars).
• Place your bins at least ½ metre apart on the kerbside. For rural residents, please place your bins 1 metre off the sealed road, well clear of traffic. When presenting two bins, place them at least 1m apart from one another.
• If you live in a court/cul-de-sac, please take your bins to the nearest straight section of road, where they are easily accessed by the collection vehicles.
• Do not place bins behind parked vehicles.
• Do not place bins under low overhanging branches or power lines.
• Ensure that the lid of the bin is closed properly.
• Do not overload your bins. Bins can be damaged if overloaded and will NOT be collected if they exceed 60 kilograms in weight. Please remove material prior to the next collection.
• Do not place rubbish on top or next to your kerbside bin.
• No regulated, hazardous waste or large objects are inside your bin/s.
• Use correct bin for Wet and Dry waste.

How to Position Your Bin for Collection Day - Factsheet

Organic waste can attract maggots and flies and leave an unpleasant sight and smell in your kerbside bin. 
Here are some quick tips on how to prevent maggots and odour nuisances.
Ensure you:

• Wrap your meat/fish scraps in a sheet of newspaper before putting them in your bin.
• Freeze your meat/fish scraps until collection day.
• Rinse your wheelie bin with a mild detergent (vinegar) & water.

If you have maggots in your bin, try the following:

• Open the lid to allow birds to eat the maggots.
• Spray the top and inside with vinegar.  

Unable to take out the garbage bins yourself and don’t have anyone that can do it for you?

Council offers infirm garbage service free of charge, for those who are unable to or do not have the support to place their garbage bins out for collection. To qualify for this service residents need to demonstrate that they are unable to take the bins out themselves and that they do not have family, friends or other support to take the bins out.

For an approved assisted household waste removal service garbage truck driver can remove the bins from the front of the property, empty them and return them to their original position. All applications require medical sign off and are reviewed on an annual basis.

Download - Application for Assisted Household Waste Removal Service.

When property tenancy/owners change, all kerbside bins must remain at the property. Council is not responsible for providing new kerbside bins if at the time of change over the bins are missing.

Before occupying the new property Council recommends checking:

• Correct bins are present
• Correct service/s provisions are in place