Townsville City Council to enforce residential bin checks

Townsville City Council is cracking down on recycling bin contamination, with a new health check program.

Council team members will be conducting a visual assessment of the contents of recycling bins on bin collection day to see whether non-recyclable items have been included.

If non-recyclable items are found, a tag will be placed on the bin, reminding residents to only place recyclable items in their recycling bins.

Household waste bins will also be to checked for hazardous items such as asbestos or batteries.

Ann-Maree Greaney, Acting Mayor of Townsville City Council said the program would run until September 2025 across seven Townsville suburbs.

“Our bin health check program will help residents recognise when they have placed non-recyclable items into their recycling bins to help our city reach its goal of increasing the percentage of material diverted from landfill,” said Greaney.

The checks will involve a contracted waste education officer checking for non-recyclable items. Greaney stressed they will not be searching through the contents of bins.

Incorrect items most commonly placed in recycling bins in Townsville include soft plastics, bagged recyclables, oversized scrap metal, textiles and food and garden scraps.

Townsville’s recycling facility accepts paper, cardboard, hard plastic food and drink containers, glass jars and bottles, steel tins and aluminium cans.

Greaney said all items not accepted at the facility, including scrap metal and batteries, need to be taken into transfer stations to be recycled.

“Council is continuously working to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill in Townsville by embracing circular economy principles, including recycling effectively,” Greaney said.

“Every Townsville resident can do their part in reducing waste to landfill by recycling effectively. This includes recycling properly at home, not bagging your recycling and taking items that are still usable to your local op shop, or the Magnetic Island Tip Shop.”

For more information, visit: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/