Funding injection boosts Scenic Rim's Bin Health Check program 

Scenic Rim Regional Council's program to lift recycling rates through random 'lift of the lid' inspections of household bins will be boosted by the Queensland Government's Let's Get it Sorted Partnership Program grant of more than $81,700.

Council's bin health checks, which began in Boonah and Beaudesert in November 2023 aim to provide households with real time feedback on their waste disposal habits to prevent recyclable items which should be placed in yellow-lidded bins from ending up in landfill,  

Scenic Rim Mayor Tom Sharp, the region's representative on the Council of Mayors Waste Working Group, said bin health checks had already helped to reduce the number of contaminants which make recyclable materials difficult or impossible to process.  

"Through the bin health checks, on-the-ground inspection teams apply green or red labels to bins to indicate whether the waste has been sorted correctly," he said. 

"Green labels indicate recyclables have been disposed of correctly while red labels offer householders constructive feedback on how to improve their waste and recycling habits. 

"It’s a simple but effective way of improving recycling and waste management practices, enabling greater recovery of valuable resources that might otherwise end up in landfill." 

Administered by the Queensland Government Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, the Let’s Get It Sorted Partnership Program provides $7.15 million in funding to support Queensland councils in driving behavioural change in waste management.  

Cr Sharp said Scenic Rim was grateful for the funding which will enable Council’s Bin Health Check program to build on the success of its trial phase. 

Valuable insights gained during the trial phase have informed Council's improvements to the Bin Health Check program and its waste education program to be rolled out to the community. 

“Council’s initial Bin Health Check trial, which concluded in July 2024, surveyed more than 3,500 bins across Beaudesert, Boonah, Tamborine, Tamborine Mountain, Gleneagle, Kalbar, and Canungra,” Cr Sharp said.  

“The reduction in waste contamination rates showed that residents were actively engaged with the program. 

“It will be great to be able to continue this initiative, thanks to the Let's Get it Sorted Partnership Program grant funding."  

Learn more about Council's Bin Health Check program at scenicrim.qld.gov.au/waste-resource-recovery/bin-health-checks

This initiative is supported by the Queensland Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund.