Gold Coast residents are being urged to plan ahead when visiting the city's waste and recycling centres during the busy holiday season.
City of Gold Coast has some easy tips to help ease the congestion, which is normally experienced around Christmas and New Year, so that you can enjoy your downtime.
"We ask that everyone plans ahead by sorting their waste from recycling and avoiding peak times between 10am and 2pm daily," said City of Gold Coast Resource Recovery Manager Mairead Lenihan.
"While we are open every day except Christmas Day, we do suggest you try to avoid dropping your waste off until after the holidays if it is not urgent."
"If we get inundated, there is a possibility some of our centres will need to close intermittently, so check the City Website before you arrive."
The City has provided suggestions for residents to reduce their waste footprint these holidays and avoid long lines at waste and recycling centres.
Recycle right
Make the most of your yellow lid bin and check 'Recyclepedia' on the City website to find out what can be recycled. Some examples are bottles, cans, clean aluminium foil, ice cream containers, cardboard packaging and cake trays, to name a few.
Choose plastic-free food wrapping
Swap single-use items such as food containers and clingwrap for recyclable alternatives such as bees wax food wraps, re-useable baking paper, silicone food covers and pouches, reusable containers and jars. The environment will thank you for it.
Don't send your greens to landfill
Garden and yard clean-ups should be put in your green organics bin. If you don't have one visit the City website now to order yours. Food scraps cannot be placed in green organics bins yet. You can find tips on how to reduce food waste at https://lovefoodhatewaste.com/
Green waste Drop and Go's are located at Pimpama, Merrimac, Reedy Creek and Molendinar WRCs.
Donate, reuse or visit Recycle Street or Endeavour Shops at Reedy Creek and Southport
Pre-loved toys, books and clothing in good condition can be donated to a local charity or the Recycle Market at Reedy Creek Waste and Recycling Centre. For those that have seen better days, you can drop unwanted household items to one of the City's four Recycle Street centres. These are located at Helensvale, Molendinar, Reedy Creek and Merrimac WRCs.
The City's waste and recycling kerbside collection services operate as usual over the Christmas-New Year period including public holidays and Christmas Day.
Visit cityofgoldcoast.com.au/waste
