In a drive to further increase recycling rates in Australia’s top holiday destination, City of Gold Coast is rolling out more recycling bins in key public places.
The initiative is part of the City’s draft Solid Waste Strategy 2024, an approach to waste management that has already achieved an increase in the Gold Coast’s total recycling rate from 33 percent to
45 percent over the last five years.
As a result of the City’s partnership with the Australian Packaging Covenant and the Queensland Government, the new bins have been installed in high profile parks and streets of Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Southport, further encouraging both visitors and locals to recycle while they’re on-the-go.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the increased number of bins will mean fewer excuses not to recycle.
“The Gold Coast has embraced recycling at home and we want to make sure there is every opportunity for locals and visitors to also be responsible in parks and public places.
“It’s a win for the environment but there are significant savings for ratepayers too with less pressure placed on our landfills and waste transfer stations.”
The new recycling bins take a range of recyclable materials including aluminium and steel containers, cardboard and paper, glass bottles or jars (clear, green and brown), and plastic containers or lids.
Queensland Government Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Dr Steven Miles said that while Queenslanders were achieving a good rate of recycling at home, a lot of recyclable material generated away from home was not being collected.
“Home recycling has become a way of life for so many Queenslanders, and with additional recycling bins in high use public areas, locals and visitors can recycle when out and about on the Gold Coast.
“These bins will also help collect litter that would otherwise have ended up on our streets, where it would be washed into stormwater drains, or blown onto the beach, and ultimately make its way to the ocean.
“The vast majority of Queenslanders want to do the right thing when they are away from home, and now when they are on the Gold Coast, they can.”
The latest stage of the program continues to extend public recycling provision across the Gold Coast in the lead up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
