Victoria’s Kingston council has introduced a new campaign in an attempt to keep its beaches clear of rubbish during the busy summer months.
‘The Bin it, or swim in it’ campaign aims to ensure a more efficient, effective, and responsive service, while improving amenity on beaches, reducing litter, and improving public safety.
The council said the existing bin system is not designed to cope with the large amounts of waste as a result of an increasing number of visitors to Kingston beaches each year.
The campaign will involve moving bins off the sand and placing them at key points along the foreshore, including pathways and car parks, where the community can easily access them, and the trucks can empty them more often.
The new system is set to be in place before the end of September, with 216 bins to be located along the foreshore, including extra bins at hotspots in Mordialloc, Aspendale, Chelsea, and Carrum.
The council said moving the bins off the sand will ensure a more visually pleasing beach experience, reduce unpleasant odours and increase bin collections in summer to keep up with the growing demand.
Jenna Davey-Burns, Mayor, said the council is dedicated to caring for the coastline and urges all beach users – both locals and visitors- to do the same.
“Bin it, or swim in it is all about everyone taking personal responsibility for their waste, caring for our environment and ensuring our foreshore is a great place to be,” she said.
“Unfortunately, last summer we were consistently seeing people even piling large items like gazebos, tents, and chairs next to the bins on the beaches – it was really sad to see.
“We are very confident that the campaign and new arrangements will significantly reduce the impact of litter and greatly improve the beach experience for everyone.”
The council will monitor bin usage with the QR code bin reporting system and new bin sensors, which trigger a collection when the bins reach 70 per cent capacity, and continue to fine-tune the service as required.
Each bin will have a timber surround to prevent damage and maintain the amenity along the foreshore and in neighbouring streets.
To find out more, https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/Home
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