Keep recycling out of waste this Christmas

As the last presents are opened and families relax after their festive meals, the aftermath of Christmas Day often includes something less cheerful – a sharp rise in household waste.

The holiday season is well-known for generosity, but it also brings a surge in discarded wrapping paper, excess packaging, unwanted gifts and leftover food.

In fact, waste and recycling volumes can jump by 30 per cent or more at this time of year.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden is encouraging the community to help reduce the amount of waste heading to landfill by making simple, informed choices.

“Christmas tends to create more waste than any other period,” Cr Eden said.

“We celebrate with large meals, more presents, and there’s lots of decorations, that means extra food scraps and a lot of packaging.

“Whether it’s disposing of uneaten food or taking the time to not mix recyclables into general waste, each of us can play a part in protecting our environment by reducing what goes into landfill.

“It is also important not to contaminate recycling bins with waste, so if it’s sparkly, flashy or laminated, it goes in general waste, not your yellow lid recycle bin.”

Recycle right

Residents unsure about which items belong in which bin can visit Council’s Recycle Right webpage (http://recycleright.cairns.qld.gov.au — note, no ‘www’) for clear guidance.

Cr Eden noted that as much as 15% of the material thrown into waste bins each year is actually recyclable.

“There are four easy categories to remember: steel and aluminium cans, hard plastic containers and bottles, glass jars and bottles, and paper or cardboard,” she said.

“These should always go into the yellow-lid recycling bin.”

Recycling is free throughout the year, and residents with overflowing recycling bins can drop extra items at any Council waste transfer station instead of putting them in general waste.

Never bin a battery

Residents are reminded that they should never bin their batteries.

Discarded batteries, especially lithium-ion ones that can be found in toys, electronic devices, vapes and mobile phones, can cause dangerous fires in household bins, garbage trucks, and recycling facilities.

Batteries should never be disposed of in your regular general waste or recycling bins, but instead recycle them at designated collection points.

Residents can dispose of batteries free of charge at Council transfer stations, as well as at Cairns Libraries and the Customer Service Centre in Spence Street.

There are also a many other centres across the city that have areas set aside for batteries or e-waste. Visit Find a B-cycle Drop off point - B-cycle for more details.

Festive-season kerbside collections

There will be no interruptions to kerbside waste and recycling collections. Residential collections will be as normal on all days, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Residents are reminded to have their bins kerbside by 6am.

Requests for additional bin collections will only be processed on 29, 30 and 31 December 2025 and 2 January 2026. Any requests outside of these days will be processed the next working day.

Go to Council’s website to complete an “Extra Bin Collection Request”.

All Council Transfer Stations will be closed on Christmas Day.

The Portsmith Transfer Station will open from Boxing Day (26 December) and resume normal operating hours (8.30am to 5.15pm).

Smithfield, Gordonvale and Babinda Transfer Stations will be closed on Boxing Day and resume normal operating hours (8.30am to 5.15pm) from 27 December.

For more information on Christmas operating hours, visit: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/contact-us/christmas-closures.