Waste Minimisation

We understand it can be difficult to keep track of all the resource recovery options available. We have developed a handy list of all the commonly disposed of items in the South Burnett and which bin they belong to.

By following the waste hierarchy, we can ensure that every step has been taken to minimise waste and its effect on the environment.

Sending waste to landfill should always be our last option. Before placing something in your general waste bin, consider the waste hierarchy. If the product was not avoided, can you reduce the amount you buy or use? Is there a way it can be reused or recycled? Let’s work together and reduce the amount of unnecessary waste sent to landfill in the South Burnett!

In 2021, a detailed audit of the South Burnett’s general waste bins showed approximately 32% of general waste bin was recycling materials, 32% was food/garden organic materials and remaining 36% was general waste that should have gone to the landfill. Remaining 64% materials (recycling + organic waste) should not have been landfilled. The easiest way to minimise waste generation is to avoid purchasing products you do not need and avoiding products with short term uses or packaging that will go straight to landfill.

 

Recycling has many benefits, such as:

• Reduces disposal costs because less waste is sent to landfill 
• Conserves limited space in landfills by diverting large amounts of waste away from these facilities 
• Saves energy and water as producing recycled products uses less of these resources compared to producing items from virgin material 
• Conserves natural resources
• Creates new jobs

Recycling materials collected from the South Burnett region are sent to the Materials Recovery Facility of Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council for processing. The comingled load is segregated into different material tyres and then baled. These bales are then sent to respective industries to manufacture fresh materials from the recycled materials.

Make sure you put the right thing in the right bin! See what can go in your yellow lid Recycling bin Recycling bin.

There are many benefits of recycling organic waste at home, such as:

• Reduces the amount of waste going to landfill
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
• Converts organic waste from kitchen and garden into free organic fertiliser
• Returns essential minerals and nourishment to soil
• Improves soil water holding capacity, soil structure, and increases aeration of soil
• Helps to break up heavy clay soil

Get started at home today! Here’s some helpful information on how to get started with Home Composting(PDF, 238KB) and Worm Farming(PDF, 214KB).

Every year, Council spends an enormous amount of time and money to clean up litter and illegally dumped waste in the South Burnett.

Problems associated with littering/illegal dumping

Littering and illegal dumping of waste has the potential to cause health and safety risks for both people and the natural environment. It can:

• Contain broken glass, syringes, nappies, medical waste and toxic substances like asbestos
• Attract rodents, insects and other vermin
• Provide an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes
• Block waterways and stormwater drains, increasing the potential for flooding and erosion
• Be a potential fire hazard
• Attract further dumping
• Other antisocial and illegal activities
• Decrease community pride and intensifies the problem
• Build up next to roads
• Block gutters and find its way into creeks, rivers and onto beaches
• Harm and/or kill wildlife

What is Littering and Illegal Dumping?

Littering: Litter has been defined as the deposit of waste at a place that is an amount less than 200L in volume.

Common types of litter include cigarette butts, drink bottles, fast food wrappers, material from a trailer that is poorly secured, grass clippings swept into the gutter, fishing tackle.

Dangerous Littering: Deposits equalling an amount less than 200L in volume, that causes or is likely to cause harm to a person or the environment.

Examples include throwing a lit cigarette onto dry grass in extreme fire danger conditions; smashing a glass bottle and leaving the broken glass on a footpath; leaving a syringe in a public place other than in a container intended to receive used syringes.

Illegal Dumping: Illegal dumping has been defined as the deposit of waste at a place that is an amount equalling amounts greater than 200L in volume.

Dumping is unsightly, degrades the local environment and costs rate payers each year to clean up. Illegal dumping includes items such as bags of household rubbish, garden waste, building and commercial materials, household goods, scrap tyres and hazardous waste.

Queensland Littering Laws and Penalties

The Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 includes a range of offences for litter and illegal dumping, including:

• General littering
• Littering from a vehicle
• Dangerous littering
• Illegal dumping
• Failing to clean up waste

Local governments and the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) have a shared responsibility for litter and illegal dumping enforcement. Authorised officers from council and Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) can issue fines and direction notices for litter and illegal dumping offence.

Examples of litter and illegal dumping fines are included in the table below:

How to Report Littering / Illegal Dumping

If you witness any illegal dumping or littering incident, then please either:

• Contact Council on phone (07) 4189 9100.
• Contact the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP).