Townsville City Council is lifting the lid on household habits that cause contamination in recycling bins with its bin health check program.
The program involves team members opening recycling bins and doing a visual assessment of the contents on bin collection day to see whether non-recyclable items have been included in recycling bins.
If non-recyclable items are included, the bin will receive a tag to remind residents to only place recyclable items in their recycling bins. Townsville's recycling facility accepts paper, cardboard, hard plastic food and drink containers, glass jars and bottles, steel tins and aluminium cans.
The team will also have a quick look at the household waste bin to check for hazardous items like asbestos or batteries.
Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said the program would run from March to September this year 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.
"These checks will involve a contracted waste education officer lifting your bin lid and taking a look at whether or not you have non-recyclable items in your bin three times during the program period. Don't worry, they will not be searching through the contents of your bin.
"If you do have non-recyclable items, you'll receive a tag to remind you what can and cannot go into your bin.
"In Townsville we accept paper, cardboard, hard plastic food and drink containers, glass jars and bottles, steel tins and aluminium cans in our recycling bins. All other items, including scrap metal and batteries, need to be taken into our transfer stations to be recycled.
"Green waste is accepted at no charge at all of our transfer stations year-round, so keep any plant material out of your recycling bin and take it straight to your closest transfer station."
Cr Greaney said having the community come together and recycle right was the fastest way to move towards zero waste to landfill in Townsville.
"Council is continuously working to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill in Townsville by embracing circular economy principles, including recycling effectively," Cr 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."
The bin health checks program will run from March to September this year.
