SHELLHARBOUR, GET YOUR WASTE SORTED!

Throughout recent generations, Shellharbour residents have drastically improved their waste habits for the betterment of our environment.

Between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024, Shellharbour residents have collected 13,200 tonnes of FOGO, 5,600 tonnes of recycling, and 13,700 tonnes of general waste, equating to 2.8 million bin lifts per year.

Caption: What we really do with our waste. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.

Recent bin audits have shown that 49% of waste collected from an average Shellharbour City household red bin could have been composted (put in the green bin) or recycled (put in the yellow bin).

Always looking for improvement, Council is committed to educating our community on the best ways to get their waste sorted.

Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said: “It’s crucial to avoid putting plastic bags and other non-recyclable items in the recycling bin,” Mayor Homer said.

“This is vitally important, as they can interfere with recycling equipment and contaminate other recyclable materials.”

If your yellow bin at home is full, Shellharbour residents are encouraged to drop off their recyclables at the Dunmore Recycling & Waste Depot for free.

Hard plastics, boxes, cardboard, glass, aluminium, and tin containers all belong in the yellow bin, whilst soft plastics, paper towel, and tissues all belong in the red bin. All food scraps belong in the green bin.

After your yellow bin is collected, your recycling goes to a transfer station at Kembla Grange. From there, it’s sent to a large factory in Sydney called the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where it is turned into new paper, containers, and other products.
Some key tips to being a good sort:

• Keep your recycling loose (never put them in a bag)
• Leave lids and labels on your recycling
• Conserve water by not rinsing your recycling
   

For more information please contact:
Melissa Ritchie – Shellharbour City Council 0467 250 884 mediaenquiries@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au