The day has arrived for Townsville residents to take control of their annual bulky waste disposal, with Townsville City Council launching the return of tip vouchers and a new-look kerbside collection service.
Mayor Nick Dametto said the initiative delivered on a long-standing community call while providing residents with greater flexibility and cost-of-living relief.
From this week, every eligible property in Townsville can choose between receiving two tip vouchers or a kerbside collection service at no charge.
"We've heard loud and clear residents wanted tip vouchers back, and today we're delivering on that promise," Cr Dametto said.
"This is about giving people choice. Every household is different, and residents can now decide whether taking waste to the tip themselves or using a kerbside collection works best for them.
"At a time when every little bit counts for families looking for ways to save money, this initiative is another practical way Council is helping reduce household costs."
Cr Dametto said the introduction of new flexi-skips to the kerbside system would modernise Council's kerbside collection service and create cleaner, tidier streets across Townsville.
"The old-style kerbside collections often resulted in large piles of waste sitting on verges for extended periods, creating a messy street and increasing the risk of litter being spread through neighbourhoods," he said.
"Our updated flexi-skip option is a much cleaner and more convenient solution, it also gives residents an idea of what their two-cubic metre load size looks like.
"Residents who choose a kerbside collection will receive a two-cubic-metre flexi-skip delivered directly to their home. They simply fill it within the allocated timeframe and place it on the kerb for collection.
"It means less clutter on our streets, less loose material blowing around suburbs and a more efficient collection process for everyone."
Cr Dametto said the program formed part of Council's broader commitment to getting back to basics while encouraging responsible resource recovery throughout the local government area.
"We want to make it easier for residents to dispose of bulky waste correctly, reduce illegal dumping and ensure reusable and recyclable materials end up in the right place," he said.
"Dealing with waste comes at a significant cost for local governments, this initiative strikes the right balance between meeting community expectations and managing costs responsibly while keeping Townsville clean and tidy."
Eligible residents can access the new system online by visiting Kerbside Collection & Tip Vouchers, entering their property details and selecting their preferred option.
Those choosing tip vouchers will receive two electronic vouchers redeemable at Council waste facilities with proof of identification.
Cr Dametto encouraged residents to continue sorting their waste before visiting a waste facility.
"The message remains the same: sort it and save," he said.
"The more residents separate recyclable and reusable materials from general waste, the less we can charge to have to send to landfill and the more value they can get from their vouchers."
Residents can access the new service and find more information by visiting Kerbside Collection & Tip Vouchers.
