Council welcomes funding to launch Bin Health Check Program
Published on 26 February 2025
Let’s get it sorted Rockhampton Region!
Rockhampton Region residents will soon have extra support in getting their household waste and recycling bin habits sorted, thanks to funding received under the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund.
With the support of this funding, Council will next month launch a local Bin Health Check Program, an initiative that aligns with ambitious targets set out in Council’s Resource Recovery Strategy.
Waste and Recycling Councillor Shane Latcham said the program involves a team of Bin Health Professionals hitting the streets to visit over 32,000 sets of residential kerbside bins throughout the Rockhampton Region.
"The aim of the program is to improve recycling quality by reducing contamination in yellow lid bins and increase the quantity of recycling by reducing the loss of recyclables in red lid bins,” Cr Latcham said.
“This initiative is all about community education - recognising local household’s good recycling habits and providing practical tips on how to sort household waste items into the yellow lid recycling bin.
“To support the program, Council is also relaunching a comprehensive kerbside bin education package aligned with the Queensland Government’s ‘Let’s Get it Sorted’ campaign.
“Similar programs rolled out in other Queensland Councils have been essential in gaining a regional understanding of bin behaviours and informing future waste reduction initiatives to help achieve zero waste community targets.”
The Bin Health Check Program will kick off next month and continue until late 2025.
Cr Latcham said Bin Health Checks are a simple ‘lift the lid’ visual assessment for all residential households that receive a kerbside bin collection service.
“The visual bin checks will be quick and straightforward, seeing if recyclable items are placed loose and clean in your yellow lid bin, spotting if there is any contamination, and scanning for any recyclable items that may have mistakenly ended up in your red lid bin,” Cr Latcham said.
“A tag on the handle of your bin will provide your bin’s health rating with customised feedback, and a useful recycling information and resources pack will be found on your bin lid.
“You can use these handy household resources on your fridge or pinboard, and scan the QR codes to find out more about how to get your waste and recycling sorted!
“The bin health team will stop by once during the program period on collection day, before your bins are serviced by collection trucks.
"Simply continue to place your household bins out for collection on your scheduled days and keep the handy resources you’ll receive after your bin has been checked.”
For more recycling resources and support, visit one of Council’s Recycling Resources Pop-Up Stalls throughout the Bin Health Check Program period:
To find out more about Council’s Bin Health Check Program including FAQs, visit: https://engage.rockhamptonregion.qld.gov.au/bin-health-check
This initiative is supported by the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund.
Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund - ‘Let’s Get It Sorted (LGIS) Partnership Program’ - Behaviour Change Intervention scheme is designed to support Queensland Councils to meet Queensland’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy targets.