Not one to usually steal the spotlight, it's safe to say the humble household wheelie bin has had 'a moment'.
Its recent thrust to fame is thanks to a new social media craze – the Bin Isolation Outing – which started in Queensland after friends dared each other to dress-up whilst taking their bins out for collection.
What began as buddies amusing each other during the COVID-19 pandemic (where bins were often leaving the house more than we were), is now a Facebook group with more than 1 million members from around the globe.
But what happens to the content of your bins after the outing ends and your waste is collected?
This essential service is provided by Sunshine Coast Council and Service Excellence Portfolio Councillor Christian Dickson explains the process.
"Once the truck collects your waste, it's transferred to either resource recovery centres for recycling or disposal in engineered, double lined landfill cells to prevent leachate - dirty water - seeping into groundwater," Cr Dickson said.
"Waste management is not a glamorous topic that gets much attention but council is continuing to invest in improvements to ensure the Sunshine Coast is well-serviced now and into the future."
Works are complete on a $4.5 million upgrade of the Caloundra landfill for the region's latest environmentally sound and innovatively engineered landfill cell.
Improvements are also taking place at the Buderim Resource Recovery Centre to provide new sorting facilities to improve landfill diversion.
Fellow Service Excellence Portfolio Councillor Winston Johnston said planning for the expansion of the Nambour Waste Precinct was another exciting waste project now on the go.
"This expansion will deliver vital upgrades to the resource recovery centre and the material recovery facility that processes the regions yellow lid bin recyclables," Cr Johnston said.
"Waste management is a core council service and these vital works will ensure our rate payers have a high quality and value for money waste collection service for years to come."
Last year (2018-19) council diverted around 125,000 tonnes of material from landfill including:
• Kerbside recycling - 33,146 tonnes
• Concrete - 34,768 tonnes
• Cardboard - 1,481 tonnes
• Green waste - 40,115 tonnes
• Scrap metal - 10,148 tonnes
• Tip shop - 4,224 tonnes
• Other (e-waste, chemicals, tyres, batteries, plasterboard etc.) - 1,471 tonnes
Council is also leading the way when it comes to innovations in waste collection.
The construction of the Maroochydore City Centre Automated Waste Collection System (AWCS), the first of its kind in Australia, is well underway with stage one of pipe installation completed earlier this year and collection station building works due for completion later this year.
Council is committed to supporting Queensland Health as the lead agency responsible for responding to COVID-19 and will ensure our community is kept informed. Anyone with concerns can call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or find up-to-date reliable information on the Queensland Health website at www.health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus. For the latest information about council facilities and services and business assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit council's website www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/COVID19.
Image: Sunshine Coast Council Service Excellence Portfolio Councillors Christian Dickson (Division 6) and Winston Johnston (Division 5).
