Recycling contamination is increasing costs

Cairns households generate around 50,000 tonnes of waste each year, costing Council approximately $16 million to collect, process and dispose of.

At the same time, thousands of tonnes of the wrong items are ending up in recycling bins every year, increasing costs, reducing recycling outcomes and sending valuable materials to landfill.

With waste management costs increasing following the outcome of a kerbside tender process last year, Cairns Regional Council is encouraging residents to take a second to know what goes in each bin and make simple sorting decisions to reduce contamination and improve the efficiency of the region’s waste and recycling system.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the region had faced increases to the costs of collecting, processing and disposing of waste, placing pressure on Council's waste management services.

"Like other councils across Queensland, we are seeing substantial increases in the cost of providing waste and recycling services to our community," Cr Eden said.

"While Council must recover the increasing costs of providing waste services, reducing contamination is one of the practical actions the community can take to help improve efficiency and reduce avoidable costs.”

Recycling contamination is increasing costs

Council found more than 1,500 tonnes of non-recyclable items were placed in the city's yellow lid recycling bins in 2025, representing 14.8 per cent of all material collected through the kerbside recycling system.

Contamination occurs when items that cannot be recycled through the kerbside service, such as soft plastics, bagged recyclables and food waste, are placed in yellow lid recycling bins.

"One incorrect item might not seem like much, but across Cairns it adds up to thousands of tonnes each year and creates real pressure on the recycling system," Cr Eden said.

"Contamination in recycling bins slows processing, increases maintenance requirements and reduces the amount of material that can be successfully recovered and recycled.

"Every tonne of material unnecessarily sent to landfill comes with both a financial and environmental cost."

Recycling in waste bins

Council is also encouraging residents to keep recyclable items out of their red lid waste bins wherever possible.

Approximately 5,000 tonnes of recyclable material is placed in red lid waste bins and sent to landfill each year at a cost of around $1.6 million.

Residents are also placing an estimated 13 million eligible Containers for Change containers into red lid bins each year, representing approximately $1.3 million in lost refund value that could otherwise help reduce the cost to the community.

"These results show the value of knowing before you throw," Cr Eden said.

"By taking a few extra seconds to check what belongs in each bin, residents can help reduce contamination, recover more valuable materials and support a more efficient waste management system.

"As costs across the waste sector continue to rise, every effort to recycle correctly makes a difference."

Despite these challenges, Cairns continues to achieve strong resource recovery outcomes

Each year Council's waste and recycling network:

• Processes approximately 9,000 tonnes through the Container Refund Scheme.
• Processes around 14 million eligible containers for refunds.
• Produces approximately 6,000 tonnes of recycled glass sand for local construction projects.
• Recovers around 5,000 tonnes of paper and cardboard that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

If you’re unsure about an item, take a pause to Know Before You Throw. The free Recycle Mate app is also available to help residents identify what goes where, with a searchable database of materials and local disposal options.

Residents can find the full list of accepted recyclables and guidance on where to take other items at knowyourwaste.cairns.qld.gov.au