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Kerbside bin contamination procedure

Information about Councils kerbside bin contamination policy and procedure and bin tags.

Red, yellow and green bin with bin tags.

Helping you to keep your bins contamination free

We developed our Contamination of Kerbside Bins policy and procedure in 2022 to help minimise contamination in residential and commercial bins.

This policy and procedure:

  • helps people to choose the right bin for the right kind of waste or recycling (whether it’s landfill, FOGO or co-mingled recycling)
  • outlines the steps we will take when people continue to contaminate their bins
  • ensures greater efficiencies within our recycling operations
  • helps achieve waste minimisation targets for a sustainable and cost-effective waste collection and recycling service.

Quick links

Why has my bin been tagged? 

Tagged bin.

If our waste collection drivers or in-truck cameras detect significant contaminants in your household bins, our first step is to let you know and to help you avoid making the same mistake twice. 

If you notice a tag has been placed on your bin, it may mean a contaminant has been detected. A contaminant is anything that has been placed in the wrong bin. For example, this can be plastic in your green bin, bagged-up general waste in your yellow bin, or something prohibited like asbestos in your any bin. 

The tag will provide more information regarding the cause of the issue, as well as links to important information on how to use your bins correctly. 

What happens next? 

You may need to remove the contamination before your bin is collected or reduce the amount or weight of the bin’s contents so it can be safely emptied. You may also receive a Contamination Notice letter if your bin has been tagged previously. The letter will provide a link to information about appropriate use of bins, including what can and cannot go into each bin. 

If your bin is contaminated a third time, you may again be required to remove the contamination before your bins are emptied. You will be advised that if your bin is contaminated again within a specified period, your service may be withdrawn, and an additional Waste Contamination charge may be added to your rates assessment notice. 

If further contamination is found within three months of a third offence, your yellow-lidded recycle bin and green-lidded FOGO bins may be replaced with general waste (landfill) bins for a minimum period of six months. This will incur an additional fee to be paid on top of the standard bin collection fee. 

At the end of the six-month period, full bin collection service and a return to normal fees may recommence if you commit to ensuring that further bin contamination will not happen. 

The Complete Contamination of Kerbside Bins Procedure can be viewed by visiting our Public Policies Page on our website and searching for Bin Contamination.

What if I believe my bin has been tagged incorrectly? 

If contamination is found in your bin and is confirmed using in-truck camera recordings to be accurately attributed to your address, you are ultimately responsible for the contamination. If you believe someone has used your bin without your knowledge, please contact us so we can discuss this further.

It is possible to receive a contamination notice without your bin being tagged. For example, this may be if the truck driver was unable to safely stop and exit the truck. If you believe your bin should not have been tagged, that you were not responsible for the contamination or should you wish to discuss the details of the contamination found, please contact us using the information provided in your bin contamination notice.  If we discover an error was genuinely made in providing you with a bin contamination notice, a file note will be made, and no penalty will be issued.

How do I know what to put in each bin? 

Information about what to put in your Landfill, Recycling and FOGO bins can be found by visiting What can I put in my bin? or by downloading the Bega Valley Waste App and utilising our handy A – Z of Waste and Recycling guide.  

We also have a brochure available to help you choose the right bin at our Waste and Recycling Centres, libraries and our customer service desk in Bega.

 

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