Free School Recycling

Council allocates a 240 Litre kerbside recycling bin for use at your school. This bin must be used for the recycling of co-mingled recyclable material generated by the school itself.

Larger bins are available and can incur additional costs, please speak with Council Customer Service regarding your requirements. Ph: 1300 69 22 47

Requests for assistance can also be made by sending an email to wasteservices@cairns.qld.gov.au

Under the program Council can provide eligible public, private, primary, and high schools within the Cairns Council local government area with an allocation of 240 Litre Recycling Bins based on student numbers.

Please contact Council Customer Service for more information about your potential allocation Ph:1300 69 22 47

Requests for assistance can also be made by sending an email to wasteservices@cairns.qld.gov.au

Yes, however this will incur additional costs.  Please speak with Council Customer Service regarding your requirements. Ph: 1300 69 22 47.

Requests for assistance can also be made by sending an email to wasteservices@cairns.qld.gov.au

Waste collections occur anytime between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM on the day of service. A service is not considered 'missed' until after 6:00 PM. Schools can place their bins out the night before collection days (i.e Tuesday night for Wednesday collections).

Collections occur as scheduled on public holidays.

Waste collection vehicles may be delayed by road closures or traffic congestion, mechanical fault, etc. Do not rely on a set collection time for your address.

Reasons why your bin may have been missed include:

• Bin was not presented before 6AM (or removed before 6PM)
• Lid is open and bin is overfull
• Too close to obstructions (parked cars, overhanging branches or other objects)
• Bin weighs more than 70kg
• Bin has incorrect items placed inside

Please report any missed collection within 24 hours to Customer Service:

To report a missed, stolen or damaged bin phone Customer Service: by phone 1300 69 22 47 within 24 hours of the missed service.

Ensure bin/s are:

• Kerbside before 6am on the day of collection
• Positioned on the footpath next to the kerb, handle towards the house
• Placed at least 50cm apart
• Not overfilled and the lid fully closes
• Not overloaded (maximum weight is 70 kilograms)
• Not contaminated with unaccepted items - view Council's acceptable recycling and waste items ( PDF, 2.96 MB )

Additional collection of recycling bins can be ordered by completing the extra bin collection request form.  Please note additional charges apply.  Contact Customer Service for further information.

View Council's bin collections and service page for further information, or download the how to ensure your bin gets collected flyer. ( PDF, 1.54 MB )

Cairns Regional Council is committed to reducing waste to landfill and improving our resource recovery efforts, this includes our regional schools helping play their part in monitoring usage of this free service.

Council collection vehicles are fitted with cameras that detect bins containing non-recyclable items (contamination). Bins with significant contamination will be tagged and left uncollected until the next service, provided the contamination has been removed. Your school will be informed and requested to lower contamination levels and conduct ongoing monitoring. If contamination persists, the service may be discontinued.

Please contact Council Customer Service for more information  Ph: 1300 69 22 47

Requests for assistance can also be made by sending an email to wasteservices@cairns.qld.gov.au

Please contact Council Customer Service Ph: 1300 69 2247 a staff member from our Resource Recovery team will be in touch to confirm further details about your requirements.

Council also offers free Tours of Council Waste & Recycling Facilities (as well as in-school/Kindy/Community Group incursion presentation sessions).  Visit Council's Waste Education home page to view further information about presentation or tour offerings.

Cairns Regional Council provides several free resources to support Cairns regional schools in their recycling efforts:

• Free Resources: Schools can access free bin labels, posters, flyers, fridge magnets, and other print materials. Visit the Council's Waste Education Resources Page for more information.
• School Presentations & Classroom Activities: The Council’s Waste Education Officer can help launch or relaunch your recycling program. This includes school assembly presentations and classroom activities to educate students on how to recycle correctly and reduce waste going to landfill. Book a session through the Council's Waste & Recycling Presentations Page.
• Free Waste Facility Tours: Schools can book a free excursion to Cairns Regional Council's Waste & Recycling Facilities in Portsmith. Students will learn about the recycling process and how the Council minimizes landfill waste through recycling, repurposing, and recovery efforts.  Book a free tour through the Council's Waste & Recycling Tours Page.

For more information or to request resources like labels, flyers, magnets, or to book school activities, please contact Customer Service Ph: 1300 69 22 47 or send an email to wasteservices@cairns.qld.gov.au.