Kerbside Recycling Coming to Cassowary Coast

The Cassowary Coast will soon commence best practice waste management with the introduction of a new kerbside recycling collection service to be implemented across the region.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council is looking to transition its current waste separation system with 240L yellow lidded ‘recycling’ and 140L red lidded ‘mixed general waste’ bins in the coming 2024/25 financial year.

The announcement follows a Special Meeting held on Thursday 11 April where council endorsed the CEO to commence negotiations for a new collection and transfer services contract with preferred vendor JJ Richards and Sons from August 2024.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Teresa Millwood said the move to include recycling in general household collections will be a significant milestone in the region’s future of waste and resource recovery management.

“The new system will replace Council’s current ‘wet waste’ and ‘dry waste’ disposal with the aim of meeting regional, state and federal targets to reduce waste and increase recycling,” Mayor Millwood said.

“These targets are part of Queensland's broader efforts to improve waste management practices and reduce environmental impacts.”

The Queensland Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy targets for 2050 include:

·         25% reduction in household waste

·         90% of waste is recovered and does not go to landfill

·         75% recycling rates across all waste types.

Through implementing household kerbside recycling, Cassowary Coast Regional Council is actively supporting Queensland to reach these targets and build a sustainable future. It will also bring Council into alignment with the Far North Queensland Region of Councils’ Resource Recovery Plan, and obligations as a Reef Guardian Council.

Council launched a tender process for ‘Waste and Recyclables Collection and Transport Services’ in September 2023. Once the Contract is awarded, a community education campaign will commence to ensure the region is ready to ‘recycle right’.

As part of the new resource recovery and recycling program, recycling facilities will be provided by Cairns Regional Council who will process the yellow lidded bin ‘recycling’ contents at their Materials Recovery Facility.

Contents of the red lidded bin, or ‘mixed general waste’, will be transported to the Springmount landfill near Mareeba.

Detailed information about the new kerbside collection program will be released in the lead up to the new collection service.