Waste Education Events
Cairns Regional Council's Waste Education Program offers many free events that residents can take part in to learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle waste better. Council also offers ongoing free Kindy, School & Community Group tours & presentation events which interested participants can register their interest for.
For a full list of upcoming Council events please visit Council's Upcoming Events Page.
Further Information about Waste Education Specific Events:
The Cairns community is invited to the 2026 Trash to Treasure event—a fun filled celebration of waste reuse, landfill reduction and sustainability!
Join us Saturday, August 8th from 9am until 1pm at the Buy Back Shop in Portsmith for a day packed with live entertainment, hands-on workshops, and local market stalls. Discover clever ways to repurpose, upcycle and reuse everyday items, and don’t miss the thrilling finale of the Reuse, Rethink, Repurpose Competition, where local schools and early learning centres showcase their amazing waste-to-wonder creations.
Proudly hosted by Cairns Regional Council, Trash to Treasure is a free community event celebrating waste education, reduction, and a circular future for all.
There’s something for everyone:
- Delicious food and coffee vans
- Community BBQ – gold coin donations go to a nominated local charity
- Live entertainment and free raffle draws for attendees and voters in the School/ELC competition
- Specials and incredible finds at the Council Buy Back Shop
- Local market stalls promoting waste reduction, reuse, and recycling
- Interactive workshops on repair, reuse, and upcycling – fun for all ages
- Award presentation for the “Reuse, Rethink, Repurpose” School and Early Learning Centre Competition
Be inspired by clever ideas that turn trash into treasure – and take home practical ways to reduce waste to landfill.
Exciting Workshops at the 2026 Trash to Treasure Event
Stay tuned for the 2026 program, packed with creative, hands-on sessions that celebrate reuse, repair, and rethinking waste.
Workshops from Last Year's event:
- Cairns Bike Repairs – Learn simple bike repairs and maintenance tips
- Precious Plastic FNQ – Bottle top lid & small item reuse and recycling demonstrations
- Junk Weavers – Weaving magic with soft plastics
- Breathe and Weave – Basket weaving using green waste
- Pirate Puppets – Create your own puppet using reused fabric – fun for all ages!
- Zine Workshop – Make your own mini-book using reused paper
- Fabric Rescue Revolution – Sewing and textile reuse demonstrations
- She Shed – Make your own bangles using upcycled materials
- What’s the Drill? – Build your own riveting recycled robot (great for adults and kids!)
- Green Space Our Place – Discover composting and sustainable gardening tips
A total value of over $5000 was won in prizes.
| Prize | Draw |
|---|---|
| 1 x $10 voucher and 2 x $20 voucher to spend at the Buy Back Shop | Lucky draw |
| Family pass to Sugarworld | Lucky draw |
| One adult and one child entry into Cairns Aquarium | Lucky draw |
| $100 voucher for Harvey Norman | Lucky draw |
| One Adult pass to Fitzroy Island & One Adult pass to Green Island | Lucky draw |
| Double pass to a performance at CPAC or Tanks Arts Centre | Lucky draw |
| 1 x $10 voucher and 1 x $20 voucher to spend at Cazalys | Lucky draw |
| 2 Flow Rider vouchers at Tobruk Pool | Lucky draw |
| 4 x All ages entry to Inflatable Kingdom | |
| 4 x Play packs at iPlay | Lucky draw and Workshop passport competition |
| 20 x Event Cinema tickets | School competition |
| 20 x Taipans tickets | School competition |
| 30 x Northern Pride tickets | School competition |
| 3 lots of $1000 cash | School competition |
Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week is taking place 10–16 November 2025
This National Recycling Week, we’re encouraging everyone to follow the Waste Hierarchy – a simple guide that puts the best actions first: Reduce, then Reuse, then Recycle. Reducing waste is the most powerful step, because if it’s never created, it never needs managing. Reuse comes next, giving items a second life, and recycling is the last step before landfill.
Did you know that here in Cairns, over 5,000 tonnes of recyclable materials ended up in landfill last year simply because they were placed in the wrong bin? Let’s work together to keep resources in use for longer and cut down on waste sent to landfill.
To help residents avoid sending recyclables to landfill, Council has launched a community education campaign called "Lift the right lid – keep recycling out of waste". The education campaign highlights four simple tips to help the Cairns community make the most of recyclable materials currently being lost to landfill.
How do we get started?
Watch our tips for keeping recycling out of waste.
The following materials do not belong in waste bins, and must instead be placed in recycling:
- Steel and aluminium cans
- Hard plastic bottles and containers
- Paper and cardboard
- Glass bottles and jars.
How to recycle right, during National Recycling Week
Council's recycle right campaign is also a great place to start with answering how to recycle right by providing residents with simplified captions, easy-to-follow guides and resources to help keep it simple and put the right thing in the right bin.
Keep an eye on this page for National Recycling Week updates, activities, and chances to get involved.
Cairns Regional Council offers a unique opportunity for schools, early learning centres, community groups, and residents to book free waste & recycling presentation (incursion) sessions.
Interested Schools, Early Learning Centres, community groups, and individuals can now book their own presentation session requests directly through Council's automated booking system. Please note, terms and conditions apply for each presentation session.
Cairns Regional Council offers a unique opportunity for schools, early learning centres, community groups, and residents to book free guided tours of our waste & resource recovery facilities in Portsmith, just 5 minutes from the Cairns CBD.
Interested Schools, Early Learning Centres, community groups, and individuals can now book their own tour (excursions) requests directly through our Council's automated booking system. Please note that terms and conditions apply for each tour.
Last Updated: 27 August 2024
Latest News > All News
Works underway to restore critical water infrastructure
Fast-tracked remediation works are underway to bring two of Council’s largest reservoirs back into service. It will strengthen water storage...
12 June 2026
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...
11 June 2026
King tides expected from Friday
King tides are expected to affect Cairns this from week, from Friday 12 June through to Saturday 20 June....
10 June 2026