Waste & recycling
Managing waste and protecting the environment is everybody’s responsibility. It's easy to lessen the impact our lives and actions have on the surrounding environment (the Great Barrier Reef, prestigious estuarine environments and rainforest habitats), by:
- Avoiding generating waste wherever possible.
- Reducing the amount of waste we collect in our lives.
- Reusing things that we have collected so they are not wasted as quickly.
- Recycling what we can.
- Disposing of what is left responsibly.
Free mulch giveaway: 25-28 May 2012
A happy, healthy garden is a mulched garden. Take advantage of our FREE mulch offer from Friday 25 to Monday 28 May to prepare your garden for the coming dry season. See the event listing for free mulch giveway times and locations.
Tips and information
- Complete list of steps to good recycling
- View our kerbside waste collection flyer and our kerbside collection flyer. Print and keep both handy to view what can and can’t go into your bins.
- Find out your recycling bin collection date.
Bin services
Please report any missed collection, bin damage or theft within 24 hours to Customer Service on (07) 4044 3044.
For a Bulk Bin Collection Service and recycling bins for apartment blocks and multi-unit dwellings, contact us on (07) 4044 3044 to arrange an on-site inspection and assessment for bin storage areas.
Cairns Regional Waste Management Strategy 2010-2015
New opportunities have emerged as waste is growing in value and is a resource in itself as both a raw material and energy source. New technologies have also developed which provide opportunities for improved management of waste.
We all produce waste and we all have a part to play in dealing with it. Council has adopted the Waste Management Strategy 2010-2015 for the whole Cairns region. The strategy is made up of a high level strategy document accompanied by five background reports, and will guide the way we manage our waste over the next five years. View the strategy document and reports here.
Contributing to a sustainable region
Council's Waste & Recycling services aim to minimise waste disposal to landfill. We operate a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), four waste transfer stations and a Buy Back Shop. These waste and recycling facilities recycle and reuse materials such as:
- Garden waste
- Household waste
- Metals
- Recyclable materials - steel cans, aluminum cans, plastics, glass
- Paper and cardboard
- Reusable household items
- Reusable building materials
Business Recycling Collection Service
Recycling in the workplace is not only good for the environment, but also your bottom line!
From 1 December 2011, the Queensland Government Commercial Waste Levy will be introduced which will mean an increase in the cost of disposing of general waste for all businesses.
Materials that are recycled do not attract the levy so the more you can recycle, the less you pay!
For more information go to: www.derm.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/waste/how_businesses_can_rethink_waste.html
Council also have resources available to support the implementation of this within your workplace and examples of the flyer & stickers are on the Related Documents section on this page.
To sign up, please contact our Business Recycling Service on 07 4044 3044.
Waste and Recycling Facilities
View a list of Council's waste and recycling facilities.