Let's Get It Sorted

When waste items are put in the recycling bin, they make it more difficult to sort at the Materials Recycling Facility. This is called contamination. 

When inorganic material is placed in the garden organics bin, this causes contamination and reduces the quality of mulch we produce. 

The wrong items cause safety issues for staff, damage the machinery, and contaminate the recyclable materials and mulch. This lowers the quality of the recycling and makes it more difficult to process and sell the materials collected. 

Now that the program funding has been announced, Sunshine Coast Council will begin preparations to start the program. It is expected that bin inspections will start in January 2025. 

Bin inspections will be conducted randomly across all 10 Council divisions. 

Bin inspections will take place for 6 weeks in each Council division throughout 2025. 

Bin inspections will be conducted by 2 officers on either recycling or garden organics bins. 

Inspectors will lift the bin lid to look at the top of bin. They will not touch or move the contents. 

If there are incorrect items inside the bin, the officer will place a tag on the bin handle and a fridge magnet in the letter box.  

The tag and fridge magnet will have information on how to correctly use your kerbside bins. 

Bins that receive tags will still be emptied as per servicing requirements. 

If there is a tag on your bin it means your household has been randomly selected to participate in the program. Please read the tag, share it with your household and check if the tips can help you improve your recycling.  

There is a QR code on the fridge magnet and bin tag that provides you with more information on using your bins. 

You could also access our online waste and recycling guide or watch our Recycle Right video series for up-to-date information on how to recycle correctly.  

Why was I chosen to be part of the program?

The program locations are chosen randomly from across Sunshine Coast suburbs. 

Households in the trial should not be inconvenienced in any way by being part of the trial.  

Will I be fined or penalised if my recycling bin is contaminated? 

No, bin inspections are for education purposes only. Your bins will still be collected as normal. Sunshine Coast Council is running the program to encourage better recycling and learn about current recycling behaviours on the Sunshine Coast. 

Do the waste educators come on to my property and rummage through my bins? 

The waste educators are from Envirocom Australia – a company which provides specialised waste education services. They only look inside recycling and garden organics bins that have been placed on the kerb for collection. They will deliver bin tags on regular fortnightly recycling or garden organics bin collection days for the area. 

They do not rummage through bins. They only observe material they can see at the top of the bin. The waste educators carry a letter of authorisation from the Sunshine Coast Council. You can ask to see it if you are unsure of what they are doing. 

What can go in the yellow lid bin?

• Glass containers (empty), including jars and bottles
• Paper and cardboard (clean, not shredded) including pizza boxes, egg cartons, drink cartons, office paper and glossy magazines 
• Hard plastic bottles and containers (empty) including drink bottles, shampoo bottles, yogurt and ice cream tubs 
• Steel containers (empty) including tin food cans or pet food tins 
• Aluminium foil, cans and aerosols (empty and scrunch foil into a ball)

What can’t go in the yellow lid bin? 

• Bagged recyclables  
• Soft plastics  
• Food or garden waste 
• Clothes and textiles  
• Rigid plastics  
• Other types of glass 
• Batteries and hazardous waste 
• Electronic items like mobile phones, TVs and anything that contains a battery.

Do I need to rinse before recycling?  

Rinsing is not essential however food containers, pizza boxes and all other items need to be empty and have scraps removed before they go into the yellow lid bin.   

Recycling symbols – which one do I use?  

Several different packaging labels are used in Australia, and some items with a recycling symbol cannot be recycled in the yellow lid bin. When considering whether an item can go in the yellow lid bin, ask yourself what the item is made from. If the packaging is made from paper, cardboard, hard plastic, aluminum and steel or glass, it is likely it can be recycled. Check out our online recycling guide and recycling tips for more information. 

I get so much conflicting information about what is recyclable. How do I know what is correct?  

When in doubt check here Learn how to recycle right to find out what you can put into the yellow lid bin. 

More information

Visit the Recycling bin collection page.

What can go in the garden organics bin?  

• Lawn clippings 
• Leaves and twigs 
• Small branches and palm fronds smaller than 30cm 
• Garden prunings 
• Flowers 

What can’t go in my garden organics bin?

• General rubbish 
• Plastic bags (including bagged garden organics)  
• Logs, stumps or tree limbs larger than 30cm 
• Bricks, rocks or rubble 
• Dirt, soil or potting mix 
• Fruit or food scraps 
• Treated timber 
• Recyclables 
• Garden accessories like plant pots, garden gnomes or hoses 
• Plastic rope

More information

Visit the Garden organics bin collection page.

What can go in my general waste bin?

• General waste 
• Sanitary items (including nappies and tissues) 
• Broken items  

What can’t go in my general waste bin?

• Liquids 
• Hazardous, chemical or medical waste (including batteries, electronics, paints, oils, gas bottles) 
• Building material 
• Car parts 
• Heavy items like rocks or concrete 
• Recyclables  

More information

Visit the General waste bin collection page.