Great Lakes, Greater Taree City and Gloucester Councils have joined together to provide residents with a new comprehensive waste collection service. This new service is called Midcoast Waste Services.

The new 3 bin system will increase our recycling capabilities and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions generated at our landfills.

What happens to your waste?

Your Yellow Lidded Recycling Bin is collected and taken to a state of the art Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). At the MRF the different materials are sorted according to the categories. Once sorted and baled (squashed into ice cubes) the materials are sent to be reprocessed into new products. We can then buy these products and 'close the loop'.

Your Green Lidded Garden Organics Bin is collected and taken to a green waste processing area where it is composted or mulched. This material can then be used as a soil conditioner.

Your Red Lidded Garbage Bin is taken to a landfill where it is buried. As the garbage decomposes methane gas is produced. Methane is a greenhouse gas which is harmful to the environment. Recyclable products which are placed in your garbage bin cannot be recovered and are lost forever.

Bins must be placed at the kerb on the evening prior to your collection day. Bins should be placed at least one metre apart and clear of cars trees and other obstacles.

Yellow lidded recycling bin

The yellow lidded recycling bin makes recycling easy and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill. Your recycling bin will be collected fortnightly on the same day as the garbage bin. Collection days for your street can be found at Midcoast Waste Services or call 1300 290 763.

Please remember these following handy tips to recycle correctly:

• Flatten plastic cardboard containers to make more space in your recycling bin.
• Remove lids from bottles and containers, placing the lids in the red lidded garbage bin.
• Wipe out or rinse recyclable containers in old washing up water before placing them in the recycling bin.
• DO NOT place items in plastic bags as they cannot be recycled. Place all your unwanted plastic bags into the 'plastic bag' recycling bins at your local supermarket or in the red lidded garbage bin.

Unsure what can be placed in your recycling bin? Check out the 'what goes where' A - Z guide at Midcoast Waste Services.

Green lidded garden organics bin

This service allows residents to divert garden waste from around the home and away from landfill thereby reducing the production of the greenhouse gas, methane.

Please do not place tree prunings more than 15cm diameter in your bin. DO NOT place garden organics in plastic bags and twigs and small branches should be placed in the bottom of your bin to assist in emptying.

Red lidded garbage bin

Only general household waste should be placed in your garbage bin. The lid of your bin needs to be closed completely with nothing protruding.

DO NOT place any of the folllowing items in your garbage bin:

• Car batteries
• Building materials
• Rocks or soil
• Gas bottles
• Hazardous or chemical waste
• Oil or paint

Unsure what day your collection day is? For further information regarding Midcoast Waste Services call 1300 290 763.