Expanded garden organics service frequently asked questions
  • Last updated:
  • 16 May 2022

We have expanded our residential bin services to include garden organics. This expanded service will start from 11 July 2022. Please don't use your bin before then as it won't be emptied.

Frequently asked questions

Find out more on the expanded garden organics bin service below.

Bins will be delivered between 23 May and 1 July 2022, ready for the expanded service to begin on Monday 11 July 2022.

 The bins will be dropped at your property boundary or just inside, near the letterbox.
 You can start using your new bin from Monday 11 July 2022. Please don’t use your bin before then as it won’t be emptied.

Please contact us via this online form if you haven’t received your bin by Tuesday 5 July and we will investigate.

 We have expanded our garden organics service to eligible households across the region to reduce waste going to landfill and move to a net zero emissions organisation by 2041. In Phase 1 of the rollout, only single unit residences will receive the bin. Bins will be rolled out to apartments, townhouses and duplexes in Phase 2 later in 2022.

Please contact council via this online form if you haven’t received your bin by Tuesday 5 July and we will investigate.

 This can happen. Please leave bin in the sun for a couple of days and it will be fine.

Please contact us via this online form to report damage to your NEW bin on or after 5 July and we will organise repair or replacement.

From Monday 11 July, your garden organics bin will be emptied fortnightly, on alternate weeks to your recycling bin. Find out your collection day here.

 Please put your bins out by 6.00am. Bin collection vehicles operate from 6.00am to 6.00pm and your bin can be emptied at any time during that window.

An information pack will be delivered with your new bin/

You can download the information pack (PDF, 1MB).

New bins will be emptied from Monday 11 July 2022.

Was it your correct week of service? The new garden organics service is fortnightly, alternate week to your recycling day. Please check your collection day to ensure you are presenting the correct waste bin.

Did you present the vin for collection prior to 6.00am? Collection times will change, please ensure bins are presented prior to 6.00am and leave them there for the whole day.

$35 per year to help make the Sunshine Coast have no waste to landfill by 2041.

240L - 660mm deep x 585mm wide x 1060mm high.

A garden organics service is an easy, convenient and sustainable way to dispose of your:

  • lawn clippings
  • weeds
  • other garden waste.

The expanded service reduces the amount of material that goes into your general waste bin and landfill.

If you generate a lot of garden waste, such as grass clippings and prunings, you can spread it across multiple weeks collections.

You are also doing your bit for the environment, helping us create a cleaner, greener Sunshine Coast.

It is part of our steps towards:

  • implementing a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bin service
  • a zero net emissions organisation
  • aiming at no waste to landfill by 2041 by reducing, reusing and recycling.

In February 2021, your feedback on how we should manage our future waste told us recycling and protecting our environment was very important and demonstrated overwhelming support for an expanded garden organics service.

There was overwhelming support to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our environment.

  • 74 per cent supported implementing a garden organics bin to eligible households.
  • 84 per cent agreed it was very important to provide a service to reduce organic waste in landfill and convert recovered organic material to useful by-products.
  • 83 per cent supported implementing a FOGO waste service.

More information on Our Future Waste engagement is available on our Have your say website.

All households (unless exempt) will receive a bin.

You can apply for an exemption.

 The program will be rolled out region wide and applies to all suburbs within the Sunshine Coast Council boundaries.

Community feedback has told us that properties of this size generally do not generate garden waste.

Therefore, your property has been automatically made exempt from this garden organics service. However, you are still able to opt-in. To opt-in, please complete the online form.

Community feedback has told us that properties of this size generally dispose of their garden waste on their property. Therefore, your property has been automatically made exempt from this garden organics service.

However, you are still able to opt-in. To opt-in, please complete the online form.

In Phase 1 of the rollout, only single unit residences will receive the bin.

Bins will be rolled out to apartments, townhouses and duplexes in Phase 2 later in 2022.

However, you are still able to opt-in. To opt-in, please complete the online form.

We encourage everyone to get behind the program and recycle garden organics.

Households with genuine storage issues can contact council.

Yes, fee will be $35 per year.

Yes.

Introducing garden organics services is the first step towards implementing a Food Organics and Garden Organics service across the Sunshine Coast.

We are currently investigating suitable processing facilities. The garden organics service can easily transition to a FOGO service in the future.

Not at this stage - the garden organics bin is 240L.

It is mulched for reuse.

Coarse mulch is available at most Sunshine Coast waste facilities.

Check stock availability and quantity limits on the mulch and crushed concrete sales page.

No, these are compulsory services.

More information

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