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Bigger Recycling Bin Trial is WA First

Published Date: 07 December 2010, 12:00 AM

Launched this week (Thursday, 9 December 2010), a new WA-first trial will test whether using a 50 per cent larger yellow top recycling bin can increase recycling in the City of Melville.

The City of Melville is the first to trial 360 litre recycling bins in WA and only the second in Australia.

Six hundred and thirty households in Winthrop were identified for the 16 week Bigger is Better trial, and have received a 360 litre recycling bin in place of their current bin.

As well as the households selected to participate in the trial, 60 additional 360 litre bins will be placed around various Council amenities such as libraries, recreation centres, parks and playgrounds for the community to view and offer additional feedback. Residents have been encouraged to use the larger bins when out and about, as well as increase their recycling at home this Christmas.

Mayor Russell Aubrey said the trial would run from December 2010 to March 2011 and the whole community was encouraged to have their say.

“The main aims of the bigger recycling bin trial are to: reduce landfill waste; increase recycling; change the way people dispose of household waste; and manage waste removal in a cost-effective manner,” he said.

“Each week, measurements of the general waste bins and the larger recycling bins will be recorded to monitor the percentage of landfill versus recyclable waste.

“SMRC statistics tell us that, on average, 20 per cent of recycling rubbish goes into the green topped bins. It’s believed that people put recycling in their green bins when the yellow topped bins become full. This trial will help us to determine if this is the case.

“The City will contact the participants during and after the trial to find out their experience of the new bins and whether they had an influence on their recycling behaviour.”

After the trial, regular yellow top bins will be returned to participants in exchange for the larger bins.

“The bigger bin option is being trialled because weekly recycling increases operational, equipment and staffing costs. Weekly recycling also increases environmental and social impacts because more vehicles are on the roads for longer," he said.   

Those items suitable for the yellow top bins include: aluminium cans, ceramic, cardboard, foam, clean meat trays, milk bottles and glass. The green top bins are suitable for:  food scraps, weeds and small prunings, cooking oil, contaminated meat trays, manure/animal droppings, cotton buds and bandaids. Further information on which bin to use is available at www.melvillecity.com.au/waste

All residents in the City of Melville are encouraged to join the Bigger is Better trial by offering their feedback via the online survey at www.melvillecity.com.au/betterrecycling or by contacting 1300 635 845.

 

Bigger Recycling Bin Trial

Posted by Colin Delane at 13 December 2010, 08:49 AM
Surely the only reason to offer bigger bins is if the regular recycling bins are being consistently overfilled, something easily identified by the drivers of the waste collection trucks! Why would anyone increase their level of recycling just because they have a bigger bin if they weren't impeded from doing so previously?

Bigger Bins

Posted by Jacquie at 14 December 2010, 02:42 PM
I find that closer to the recycling day my bin is always full so have no choice but to put cardboard and other items in the normal waste bin rather than holding onto them until recycling day and then filling up the emptied bin. I think it is a great idea. Can't wait to get one.

Larger recycle bin

Posted by Peter and Eve Boland at 13 December 2010, 08:49 AM
We think this is a very good idea and trust the trial will be successful, as we are great supporters of recycling

Batteries

Posted by Mrs Patricia Robertson at 13 December 2010, 08:49 AM
Which bin for batteries? Neither?

Bigger is Better Recycling Trial

Posted by Caroline Minton at 13 December 2010, 03:28 PM
Great initiative Melville, but I would really love to see a 50% SMALLER waste bin trial. The 240L bin is 10X bigger than what's really needed if people buy smarter and compost/worm-farm their own food scraps for their own garden/vege patch. We need to encourage less consumption and wastage in general, not just encourage more recycling.

Bigger Recycling Bin Trial

Posted by Bill Harris at 14 December 2010, 12:53 PM
Whilst any attempt to increase recycling in the City of Melville is to be commended,has any thought been given to increasing the present fortnightly collections to weekly?At present some of the recyclable rubbish must end up in the wrong bin after ten days or so.

Bigger is Better Trial

Posted by Leigh Bosworth, City of Melville Manager Operations at 15 December 2010, 10:37 AM
Thanks for all your feedback, this is a great indication of community sentiment of the trial, which is exactly what it's all about. We would love you to send us all your comments throughout the trial via the online forum which you can find at www.mellvilecity.com.au/betterrecycling.

In answer to your questions, green top bins collected by the City of Melville currently contain about 20 percent recyclable waste - which is often overflow as residents fill yellow top bins - so, bigger recycling bins will give people greater capacity to recycle.

All the green bin waste collected is taken to the Regional Resource Recovery Centre (RRRC) waste processing plant in Canning Vale and the majority is turned into compost, but there is still a small gap which cannot be composted, including excess recyclable material, which ends up in landfill. We hope initiatives like this can help to decrease landfill waste by giving people the opportunity to be more selective about what goes into their waste bins.

The trial of the 50 percent larger bins was chosen in preference to weekly collection as the latter would lead to more environmental and social impact with extra trucks on the road - a larger bin is operationally more environmentally friendly.

The possible use of smaller green waste bins has been reviewed, but at this stage is not a preferred option. The main reason being contamination of recycling and extra costs as a result - if residents fill smaller green bins they would be forced to use the yellow top bin, causing contamination which significantly increases labour efforts to separate the waste or an entire load being sent to landfill, both of these options increase environmental and financial costs.
Giving people the opportunity to recycle more and therefore only partially fill their green bin each week would be a big win for both Melville and the environment.

Unfortunately, batteries are cannot be placed in either bin, but there are a number of battery bins at various City of Melville sites, including the Civic Centre in Booragoon, Operations Centre in Murdoch and Piney Lakes in Winthrop. There is also a collection bin at the RRRC plant in Canning Vale.

What about the elderly...?

Posted by Alexis at 17 December 2010, 10:44 AM
I think this is a great idea - it's wonderful to see the City encouraging its residents to recycle! My only worry is about how easy these bins will be to move for residents who are older or perhaps don't have the same level of movement as others. Considering that they're twice the size and will contain twice as much material, won't they be a lot more difficult to move?

R.E. What about the elderly...?

Posted by Leigh Bosworth, City of Melville Manager Operations at 17 December 2010, 12:48 PM
We understand some people may have logistical concerns about the larger size bin, which is why we are keen to hear feedback from those using the bins first-hand.

The 360L bins do have features that help manageability, with larger wheels designed to take a lot of the effort and an inbuilt 'step' at the back to helps lift the bin into the rolling position.

As the nature of recyclable waste tends to be lighter than general waste, we hope residents would still be able to move the bins as easily as the smaller ones.

There are a number of outcomes that could result from the trial, and all will be discussed with consideration made to those who may be less able to handle a larger bin size.

Bigger Recycling Bins

Posted by Amanda Cullity at 20 December 2010, 08:41 AM
I have 2 recycling bins which I pay extra for. A bigger bin might save me the cost of the extra bin and space in the yard.

Recycling

Posted by IanS at 05 January 2011, 04:10 PM
Bigger bins a no-brainer - everyone I know ends up throwing recycling into normal bins because they run out of space in the recycle bin. Why not invite all residents to upgrade to a bigger bin if they wish.

Bigger recycling bins

Posted by Celeste Marinovich at 06 January 2011, 01:22 PM
I think it's a great idea. We constantly end up having to save recycling in plastic bags in the garage because our bin gets full (and that's after squashing it down) only to nearly fill up again immediately after it's emptied. We've always needed more frequent collection and a larger bin is the perfect solution. It saves on the council's labour and truck operating costs. Anything that saves our council money is worthwhile otherwise it end up on our rates bill.

Trial Finished

Posted by Andrew Harwood at 27 June 2011, 08:00 AM
Now that the trial is finished, when can I get a 360L bin?

RE Trial Finished

Posted by Brett McInnes, City of Melville Waste Services Coordinator at 28 June 2011, 08:02 AM
The trial results are now being compiled and has been presented to Council for assessment. We will keep you all posted on the progress.

Trial Finished

Posted by Con Abbott at 27 February 2012, 10:45 AM
Dear Melville;

The trial of the 360L bin finished 12 months ago and based on the above feedback appears to have been a successful initiative and one which I'm sure the vast majority of residents would support as we all endeavour to "reduce re-use and recycle".

Back in June 2011, Melville advised "The trial results are now being compiled and has been presented to Council for assessment. We will keep you all posted on the progress."

Could you please provide your stakeholders with an update.

Feedback

Posted by Brett McInnes, City of Melville Waste Services Coordinator at 28 February 2012, 09:02 AM
Thank you to all for your feedback.

The 360 recycling trial was successful, however council have requested further investigation in relation to weekly recycling.

Further study is underway to ensure that the best possible recycling system is implemented.