Lake Mac's New Bin System Starts Today

Lake Macquarie's revised bin system starts today in a bid to reduce waste going to landfill.

Food scraps can now be placed in the green waste bin, which will be collected weekly.

While the general waste bin will be picked up fortnightly, in alternate weeks to the recycling bin.

Every household should've received a little white bin for inside the home, to collect leftover food.

Bin collection days will still be the same.

WHICH FOOD CAN GO IN THE GREEN BIN?

• Cooked food and leftover scraps
• Grains, breads, rice, cereals and pasta
• Egg shells, cheese, yoghurt and other dairy products
• Fruit and vegetable peelings and scraps
• Coffee grinds, tea leaves and tea bags
• Meat, bones, poultry and seafood (except the hard shells from oysters, scallops, mussels and clams).

For the full list of WHAT goes in WHICH bin...click HERE.

WHAT ABOUT THE COMPOSTABLE BAGS?

• Compostable bags are the only type of bag allowed in your green bin.
• Your starter kit came with 150 bags, which should last about 12 months when 2-3 bags are used each week.
• Extra bags can be collected free of charge at Lake Mac Libraries, Council's Administration Building, Council Depot, Landcare Resource Centre and Awaba Waste Management Facility.
• Compostable bags are also stocked at some retail outlets for a fee.

For more info on the bags...click HERE.

WHERE DO I LEAVE DIRTY NAPPIES?

• Nappies still need to be placed in the general waste bin, which will now be collected fortnightly.
• Council carried out a trial in 2014, which found the amount of nappies in a bin didn't significantly affect the smell.
• It's advised to wrap nappies in a plastic bag before putting them in the bin.
• Try to keep the bin out of direct sunlight.

For more tips on how to manage nappies...click HERE.