Rubbish and Recycling

Why wasn't my bin collected?

Bins must be out before 6 am on your collection day to avoid it being missed if there is a change of driver or route. The best time to put your bin out is the night before. Bins that are overloaded (over 70 kg) are unable to be lifted.

If your bin was out before 6 am and was not collected, please contact the City on 9021 9600.

My bin is broken, how can I get it fixed? 

Damaged bins can be reported to the City on 9021 9600. If your bin cannot be repaired it will be replaced at no additional fee.

My bin is missing, what do I do? 

If your bin is missing, please download and submit a Bin Service Request Form. Please note, this document must be signed and applicable fees paid for requests to be processed.

There is a fee of $44.80 (effective from 1st July 2022) for replacing bins in accordance with the Provision and Replacement of Mobile Garbage Bins Policy.

I moved into a new property, how do I get bins? 

If you have moved into a newly built property, or an existing property that is missing its bin(s) please download and submit a Bin Service Request Form. Please note, this document must be signed and applicable fees paid for requests to be processed.

My bin is smelly, can I get a new one? 

You are responsible for cleaning and maintaining your bins. The City will not replace dirty or smelly bins.

To prevent your bin becoming smelly:

• Wrap moist and perishable foods in newspaper
• Freeze smelly foods such as seafood until the night before collection
• Store your bin in a shaded area
• Clean your bin regularly using hot soapy water

I have trouble moving my bin, can I get help? 

If you are having trouble moving your bin to and from the kerbside for collection due to permanent or temporary immobility you can apply for the disability service. As part of this service, the driver will collect your bin from your residence, take it to the truck to empty and then return it on your usual bin days.

To apply for the disability service you must make an appointment with your doctor who will determine if it is required. Your doctor will then send a letter to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder who will advise our waste contractor Cleanaway of your name and address details. Once confirmed and approved the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder will advise you of the commencement date.

When is my recycling bin day? 

Use our handy Find my Bin Day Link to look up your property and see what day your general waste and recycling bin will be collected. 

Collection times may vary, so place your general waste and recycling bins on your verge by 6am on collection day. 

Bins must be 80cm apart with handles facing the property. Avoid placement near trees or parked cars.

If your bin was on the verge by 6am and has not been collected on your bin day please contact the City on 9021 9600.

What can I put in my recycling? 

Download our What Can I Recycle Information Sheet to see which items you can and can't place in your kerbside recycling bin.

Recycling tips:

• Place items loosely in your recycling bin
• Rinse food containers before recycling
• Do not tie recyclables in plastic bags or place plastic bags in your recycling bin
• Remove lids from bottles, jars and containers. The lids can also be put in the recycling bin.

Items that can't be placed in recycling bins:

• Nappies
• Food waste
• Textiles or clothing
• Plastic bags or soft plastics
• Garden waste, timber or building materials
• Rubber or leather items
• Metal objects other than steel and aluminium cans
• Crockery, pottery, porcelain or plate glass

Why should I recycle? 

Recycling is very important to the natural environment as waste has a huge negative impact.

Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill, where rubbish releases harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases.

Recycling also reduces the need for processing raw materials which uses more energy and creates more pollution. 

In short recycling saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions!

Other recycling 

Various items cannot be recycled in kerbside recycling bins as they are classified as hazardous goods. Please see below for other recycling options.

• Batteries 
• Telstra - recycle household batteries in store
• C.D. Dodd Scrap Metal Recyclers - Recycle batteries including single use, rechargeable and disposable
• Yarri Road Refuse Facility - Recycle lead acid batteries
• Paint
• Toxfree - recycles wet paint through the national Paintback project
• Fire extinguishers
• Wormald
• Toxfree
• eFire & Safety
• Gas cylinders
• Bunnings - Swap&Go Kleenheat 9kg cylinders and recycle expired cylinders
• Kleenheat - recycle empty Kleenheat cylinders
• BOC - recycle empty BOC cylinders
• ELGAS - recycle empty ELGAS cylinders
• Minesite Recycling 

Why are we bin tagging? 

The City carries out bin tagging to provide direct feedback and education to households on the contents of their recycling bin, as well as what can and cannot be recycled.

By doing this we are clarifying which materials can actually be put in recycling bins and encouraging households to recycle right.

Recycling right means that contamination is reduced, resulting in clean recycling that can be processed, sold and made into new products.

Contamination from one recycling bin can affect a whole recycling truck load, so it is important that everyone recycles right!

Where are we bin tagging? 

City Officers are bin tagging households on randomly selected streets across all suburbs of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

I received a green tag, what does this mean?

Well done! A green "thank you" tag indicates that that your recycling bin was free of non-recyclable items and that you are recycling right.

Please keep up the good work!

I received a pink tag, what does this mean? 

A pink "we ask one small favour" tag indicates that your recycling bin was minorly contaminated with non-recyclable items. 

City Officers will have noted on the tag which non-recyclable items were found in your recycling bin. Non recyclable items include, but are not limited to, garden waste, food scraps, unrinsed containers, soft plastics, clothing and nappies. 

To avoid receiving a red tag please place non-recyclable items in the general waste bin in future. Clothing can also be donated to op shops and soft plastics can be recycled with the Redcycle program at Woolworths and Coles.

I received a red tag, what does this mean? 

A red tag indicates that non-recyclable items have been found in your recycling bin three times.

Your recycling bin will not be collected this fortnight. Please remove non-recyclable items from your recycling bin for it to be collected next fortnight.