Do the right thing and wheel it back in

Council is reminding residents and business owners to bring their bins back in from the street promptly after they’ve been emptied.

“As well as being an eyesore, bins left on footpaths get in the way of pedestrians and cyclists and force them to have to walk out on to the road to get past,” says Council’s Waste Manager Wayne Schafer.

“In outdoor dining precincts the smell from bins left on the street can be off-putting for café and restaurant patrons.

“Sometimes bins even end up in the road shoulders where they prevent access to parking spaces and potentially pose a hazard for drivers.”

Mr Schafer said Council’s bin policy sets out when and how residents and traders should place their bins out for collection. It also gives Council the power to enforce the rules, which apply to all three bins – general rubbish, recycling and garden waste, including wheelie bins and bulk bins.

“The majority of business owners and residents do the right thing, but the policy means staff have some enforcement options if dealing with repeat offenders,” Mr Schafer said.

He said in most cases wheelie bins should be placed at the kerb on the evening before rubbish collection day, or by 6am on collection day, and moved back in as soon as possible after they’ve been emptied.

“Where there are nearby outdoor dining areas, bins should be put out only after customers have finished dining on the evening before collection day. Alternatively, place the bins out before 6am on collection day,” Mr Schafer said.

“After the bins have been emptied in the early morning, it’s important they’re removed from the footpath before shops begin to trade and outdoor dining commences.”

Mr Schafer said Council emptied more than 50,000 bins every week and residents could help ensure this mammoth task went smoothly by following the rules.

More information about the bin policy can be found on Council’s website, as can information about waste and recycling.

24 October 2018