Waste Management

Council considers waste management a core service and is committed to consultation and working with community on education and implementation of more sustainable practices to reduce, recycle and re-use resources.

The aim of its Waste Management Strategy (Strategy) is to grow a sustainable community through proactive waste initiatives including minimising waste to landfill and increasing materials recovery. The Strategy sets out a pathway to a more circular economy and provides guidance on new and future waste management services.

What new services are proposed in the Strategy?

One of the Strategy’s goals is to divert organics from landfill by introducing a kerbside food and organics collection service (FOGO).

Diverting organics waste from landfill is one significant action Council can take to reduce its carbon footprint as composting produces about 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than landfilling.

Council will take a phased approach as there is currently no local organics processing facility. However, it is anticipated that within 2 years a facility will be operational to accept FOGO.

The first step towards this change will be the roll out from 1 July 2024 of a monthly kerbside green waste 240L wheelie bin service for residential areas.

When FOGO is introduced, the same green waste bin will be used for FOGO and the collection frequency will be re-assessed, taking into account costs and consultation with community.

Existing weekly garbage and recycling services will remain in place and no changes will occur until FOGO is introduced over the next 2 to 3 years.

any change from a weekly to fortnightly collection cycle will be supported through delivery of a larger 240lt bin.

Will the green waste service be offered as opt in or opt out?

Council is working closely with other councils across the state that have already implemented this service to develop criteria that would allow for an opt out option.

What will happen to existing green waste & hard waste services?

The existing green waste and hard waste services will remain in place until July 2024.

Under the Strategy, Council intends to phase out these services over time.

While green waste and hard waste are popular, roadside green and hard waste create safety and amenity issues and generate a large number of complaints. In the long term, Council cannot also guarantee that a suitable contractor will be available to collect bulk green waste and hard waste as many waste management businesses are reluctant to provide this service due to the manual handling risks involved (including rejection of loads due to being too heavy).

Currently, hard waste is primarily taken to landfill. If residents take hard waste directly to a transfer station much higher rates of diversion from landfill will be achieved.

Will rates increase because of the new services?

In simple terms, yes.

The current waste rates structure will remain unchanged for 2023/2024 noting waste management rates charges will be adjusted to reflect increases in fixed costs.

New organics service will be more costly and Council will consult with the community to determine if waste rates will need to increase or service levels adjusted to reduce costs. However, the exact change will depend on the type and frequency of services to be provided, for example if FOGO is weekly or fortnightly.

What impact will the introduction of the Container Refund Scheme (CRS) have on recycling centres?

Recycling centres will be integrated into the CRS when it commences. This service will ‘roll out’ refund points for containers that will replace the existing recycling centres.

The new kerbside collection contract will allow residents to request a larger 240L or 360L recycling bin for recyclable items that the CRS doesn’t collect.

Garbage collection occurs weekly

What you can place in your garbage bins:

We WILL collect:

• food scraps
• disposable nappies
• small broken household items such as china and glassware
• plastic bags, garbage bags, and non recyclable plastic and food packaging.

We WILL NOT collect:

• building materials
• batteries (drop household batteries at the recycling area at the Mornington Park Waste Transfer Station
• chemicals (caustics, acids, thinners/solvents)
• medical waste (sharps)
• medicine/drugs
• heavy metals
• herbicides and pesticides
• dyes and colours
• tyres
• glues and adhesives
• asbestos
• recyclable packaging (place this in your yellow recycling bin)

Important information on waste collection

Please observe these requirements to assist with your waste collection:
– Number your bin lid to protect against loss or theft.
– Remove bin from kerbside as soon as possible after collection.
– Bag all items, especially dust and loose materials, to prevent jamming and avoid spillage during collection.
– The bins are for domestic waste only – food scraps and non-recyclable materials.
– Do NOT put bricks, heavy timber or steel in the bin as these materials can damage the collection equipment.
– Do NOT place rubbish beside or on top of the bin.

Tips for ensuring your bins are collected

– Place your bin out for collection the night before or no later than 6am on collection day.
– Make sure there is a distance of at least 1 metre between your bins and any obstacles such as a pole or tree.
– Bins must face the road with handles facing your house
– Don’t place your bin behind a parked car or other obstacle.
– Don’t overload the bin. The lid should be fully closed.

• Recycling collection occurs fortnightly on the same day as your garbage collection.

How to use the recycling bin service

Your recycling bin should be used as a first option to discard the recyclable materials and to avoid disposing them in the garbage bin. Recycling bins should be placed at the kerbside with the wheels facing away from the road by 6.00am on the collection day. For residents with a shared bin service where there is no kerbside space, the bins are to be left in the bin enclosure for the contractor to remove and empty the bins. When placing bins on kerbside ensure the bin is clear of obstructions such as trees with overhanging branches, poles and signs. Allow spacing of 1 metre between other bins or garbage wheelie bins. Bins will be emptied between 6.00am and 6.00pm. Bins presented late will not be emptied. Please ensure that your recycling wheelie bin has been loaded correctly and that there are no loose or large items in the bin that have caused the contents to lodge inside the bin. Do not secure the recyclable materials in plastic bags.

Recycling Contamination

If you put non-recyclable items in your recycling bin, it will not be collected. If your recycling is contaminated it can mean an entire truck load of recyclables cannot be recycled. Recycling collection occurs fortnightly on the same day as your normal garbage collection.

Putting non-recyclable items in the recycling bin is called ‘contamination’. If your bin is contaminated it won’t be collected, as a few contaminated bins can mean an entire truckload of recyclables cannot be recycled. Please make an effort to recycle right!

Plastic bags are the most common contaminant found in recycling. Plastic bags CANNOT be placed in the recycling bin:
– they should be reused;
– returned to a supermarket and placed in the plastic bag recycling station;
– or disposed of in your garbage bin.

Do not place the following items in your recycling bin:

• Domestic Waste – garden or household
• Ceramics, pottery, cookware and cutlery
• Plastic bags
• Window glass or broken glass
• Clothing or shoes
• Oil, acid or chemical containers
• Nappies
• Asbestos

Recycling Other Items

Here is a list of where you can recycle items that can’t go in your wheelie bin – A-Z Recycling Guide

Green waste is collected monthly and is only available to residents who currently have kerbside pick-up of rubbish. Green waste is collected the week of your normal rubbish collection.

Green waste needs to be placed on a tarp, in an open rigid container (other than a wheelie bin) or tied in bundles. DO NOT put it in plastic bags or cardboard boxes as it will not be collected.

Green waste must be:

• Less than 1.5 metres in length.
• No thicker than 20 cm in diameter.
• 2 cubic metres maximum.
• Easily lifted by 2 people.

For your Green Waste to be collected, it is essential that you book your collection in.

This can be done via:

Online – Waste Collection Bookings

Phone –  6269 0000

Bookings close at 12 noon on the Friday prior to your collection week.

All waste must be placed on the nature strip the weekend prior to your scheduled collection week. Council’s contractor will collect your green waste during the scheduled collection week. Littering fines can be enforced for any items that are placed out earlier than permitted.

If your waste is not pre-booked or does not comply with the size limits or material requirements, it will not be collected.

Hard waste is collected quarterly and is only available to residents who currently have kerbside pick-up of rubbish.  Hard Waste is collected the week of your normal rubbish collection.

Hard Waste must be:

• Less than 1.5 metres in length.
• 2 cubic metres maximum.
• Easily lifted by two people.

Items that will NOT be collected:

• Fridges and freezers.
• Hazardous materials (e.g. tyres, batteries or asbestos).
• Broken glass or building rubble.
• Car bodies or engine blocks.
• Chemicals or liquids (e.g. paints and oils).
• Normal household rubbish or gas bottles.

For your Hard Waste to be collected, it is essential that you book your collection in.

This can be done via:

Online – Waste Collection Bookings

Phone –  6269 0000

Bookings close at 12 noon on the Friday prior to your collection week.

All waste must be placed on the nature strip the weekend prior to your scheduled collection week. Council’s contractor will collect your hard waste during the scheduled collection week. Littering fines can be enforced for any items that are placed out earlier than permitted.

If your waste is not pre-booked or does not comply with the size limits or material requirements, it will not be collected.

To request a new or replacement garbage or recycling bin please fill out the online application form here.

There may be a fee associated with this replacement.

If you are the tenant of the property, the owner/property manager is required to complete and sign this form as there may be some additional costs involved with the replacement of the bins.

Council offers a delivery service for new and replacement garbage and recycle bins every Wednesday.

The Sorell Municipality does not have a transfer station. Most items that cannot be collected as part of the normal collection services provided by Council can be taken to the Mornington Park Waste Transfer Station located at 126 Mornington Road, Mornington.

For full details including fees, contact the Mornington Park Waste Transfer Station on 6282 3200 or visit https://www.morningtonparkwaste.com.au/

The Sorell Recycling Hub is a dedicated special item recycling facility located in the Council Offices.

This facility provides the community a place to recycle small items that are recyclable but are not included in kerbside collection. It diverts materials containing heavy metals from landfill and helps support the circular economy.

Items we are currently collecting include:

• Batteries
• Mobile Phones
• Printer cartridges
• Small e-waste items
• Medical x-rays
• Plastic bread tags
• CD’s & DVD’s
• Fluorescent light globes

Items can be dropped into the Recycling Hub during Council’s opening hours – 8.00am to 4.45pm Monday through Friday.

Council has two community recycling centres which are accessible 24 hours, 7 days per week:

• Sorell Recycling Centre – Stores Lane, Sorell
• Dodges Ferry Recycling Centre – 538 Old Forcett Road (behind the Dodges Ferry Football Clubrooms)

Dodges Ferry Recycling Centre

Here are some simple tips to reduce your waste going to landfill:

• Shop carefully. Choose items with the least amount of packaging, items made from recycled materials or items that can be recycled.
• Use reusable shopping bags.
• Compost or use a worm farm.
• Place a ‘No Junk Mail’ sticker on your letterbox.
• Give unwanted items to charities or hold a garage sale.
• Make lunches for work and school that contain no rubbish and only use recyclable and reusable containers or compostable food.

Avoiding generating waste in the first place is a great way to start.

Rethink Waste is a great place to get a range of information and resources on all things waste related – rethinkwaste.com.au

Wheelie Bin Collection Days

Sorell Municpal Waste Collection Maps

Sorell Council – Waste Management Services Calendar 2023

Council has a policy for waste collection from multi-unit developments which provides guidance to developers and residents on waste collection services provided.

You can read it here: Guidelines for Multi Unit Developments 

Please click on the link below to make your Green or Hard Waste Bookings:

Waste Collection Bookings – Sorell Council