Unrestricted Burning Period

The Unrestricted Burning Period is in effect. Residents in rural zoned areas can burn at any time without a permit, but must do so safely and responsibly. Burning is not allowed on days with a HIGH or greater Fire Danger Rating or during a Total Fire Ban. Read more about how the Unresricted Burning Period works.

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Three bin GO

The City is excited to announce the new three-bin Garden Organics (GO) System, enhancing our commitment to sustainability and effective waste management.

Introducing the three bin GO system

The three bin GO system introduces a dedicated lime green-lidded bin for garden organics, alongside your existing general waste and recycling bins. By separating garden organics, recyclables, and general waste, it helps to reduce unnecessary waste sent to Kwinana Energy Recovery and promotes recycling and composting.

This is a significant step toward a greener, more sustainable community.

    • Lid Color: Lime Green
    • Size: 240L
    • Purpose: Turns garden waste (like grass clippings and leaves) into compost, which helps improve our soil and environment.
    • Collection: Fortnightly (Week 1)
    • Weight Capacity: 70kg max 
    • Lid Color: Yellow
    • Size: 360L or 240L
    • Purpose: Recycles paper, cardboard, cans, plastic, and glass into new products.
    • Collection: Fortnightly (Week 2)
    • Weight Capacity: 70kg max 
    • Lid Color: Red
    • Size: 140L
    • Purpose: For items that can’t be composted or recycled. This should be a last resort.
    • Collection: Weekly
    • Weight Capacity: 70kg max 

Benefits of the GO Bin

  • More Space for Garden Waste: The new lime green lid bin gives you more room to recycle garden waste.
  • Better Soil Health: The compost made from garden waste enriches the soil.
  • More Recycling: Encourages recycling of materials through the recycling bin.
  • Consistency: Aligns with the practices of neighbouring councils.
  • Supports WA’s Strategy: Helps us meet the WA Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030.
  • Community Demand: There’s a high demand for an organics bin in our community.
  • More Efficient and Cost-Effective: Offers better value and lower risk compared to other options.

 The GO bin rollout 

The City began rolling out the GO bin in late April 2025. The City notified residents through a range of methods, including direct mail, social and print media.

How the GO Bin System works

  • A 240L GO bin will automatically be provided to properties over 350m², as they usually have larger gardens.
  • If your property is under 350m², you can choose to opt into the three-bin system at any time, free of charge.

Opt-in for a GO bin

There are two key changes to your bins.

  1. Your 240L general waste bin will change to a GO bin. If you have an old bin, your current 240L dark green lidded bin will be removed and replaced with a new 240L lime green lidded bin for garden organics. If it is a new bin, the lid will be replaced to lime green lid turning your current general waste bin into a garden organics bin.
  2. You will receive a new 140L red lidded bin for general waste. Simply place your bin out on the designated collection day, and our team will handle the rest. We will also provide you a with an information pack, informing you about your new bin.

Your old bin will be recycled into new bins. Your new bin being delivered during the rollout is made from 80% recycled material. 

  • The lime green-lidded GO bin will be collected fortnightly on the opposite week to the recycling bin.

    Your red lidded bin will continue to be collected weekly. 

    Find out your collection day and recycling week in your 2025 Waste and Recycling guide or online. 

    Find your bin day 

    • Place your bins at least 1.5 meters from the kerb and 50 cm apart from each other.
    • Ensure the lids are closed and that the bins are easily accessible, away from trees, cars, power poles, and letterboxes.
  • What Goes in the GO Bin?

    The lime-green-lidded Go bin is for garden organics only, such as:

    • Weeds 
    • Garden clippings
    • Twigs and sticks
    • Pruning, cuttings, and trimmings
    • Palm fronds
    • Leaves

    The following items should NOT go into your GO bin: 

    • Plastic bags
    • Bulk sand
    • Food waste
    • Pet waste 
    • Treated timber
    • Fabric
    • Any non-garden organic materials

    These items can heavily impact the end product of the compost. The contents will be sent over to a composting facility where it will be processed into an organic compost used for farming purposes, parks and gardens.

    To find a detailed list on what to do with your waste visit Recycle Right.

  • Changes to Your General Waste Bin

    The Kwinana Energy Recovery Facility (KER) is now operational, meaning the City is no longer sending waste to landfill. All general waste is being processed at KER, transforming waste into energy. Despite waste being turned into energy, it is still important to avoid waste generation when you can.

    You will also notice that general waste bin lids are turning red. This is to align with the State Government Waste Strategy  to ensure that everyone can easily distinguish what bin is a general waste bin by its bright red colour lid. We will be converting our bins to 140L bins, encouraging waste reduction and sorting. This change supports better resource recovery and more sustainable waste practices.

    Sustainable Bin Bodies

    Since 2023, the City has been committed to using recycled bin bodies. This means bin bodies are now made of 80% recycled plastic! This means that the bin body colour may change slightly. Together we are working towards a more sustainable future.

  • The success of the GO bin system relies on your participation. Here’s how you can help:

    1. Stay Updated: Stay informed by keeping an eye out for updates on the City’s Facebook page.
    2. Educate Yourself: Familiarise yourself with the guidelines for separating waste. We will provide educational resources such as brochures and online materials to help you understand the system and make the most of it.
    3. Spread the Word: Tell your neighbours, friends, and family about the GO bin system and encourage them to join in.

    Together, we can make a positive impact on our environment. Let’s work towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Kwinana. 

Kwinana's road to GO

In October 2022, the City surveyed our community and received 877 responses from passionate residents. The City then invited around 80 survey participants at random to participate in an in depth focus group. The results from this focus group along with the survey results directly influenced the feasibility assessment outcomes.

View the Three Bin Feasibility Assessment Report

The City considered a range of factors across economic, environmental, social and governance outcomes to inform its decision. See below.  

  • 896 Kwinana residents were surveyed to gauge community demand for a 3 bin system. 

    • 32.3% of residents surveyed preferred a 2 bin system
    • 65.4% of residents surveyed preferred a 3 bin system
    • 2.3% of residents surveyed did not have a preference

    Of the surveyed residents who wanted a 3-bin system, 60.3% preferred a FOGO waste system, 32.7% a GO waste system and 7% did not mind either system. 

  • Looking at the environmental factors the following emissions kg/CO2 per household per year were considered:

    • 2 Bin - 82
    • GO - 90
    • FOGO - 95

    The material recovery rate for each option (State 2025 target 67%):

    • 2 Bin - 35%
    • GO - 49%
    • FOGO - 56%

    Note: Material recovery is the process of obtaining materials that can be reused or recycled ie. composting and recycling. 

  • The total cost for an average 10 year period, including collection, processing, maintenance and rollout costs, included:

    Increase in rates per year (per annum): 

     2 BinGoFOGO

    Overall Cost

    current+$0.8m+$2m
    Household costcurrent+$35+$85

     

  • When looking at the overall risks, GO was chosen as the best option for the City due to:

    • best value for money
    • plentiful processing options
    • easier system to use
    • achieves moderate material recovery
    • produces moderate emissions
    • residents want a three bin system
    • provides partial alignment to the Waste Strategy 2023

Frequently Asked Questions 

What can I put in each bin?
  • Your GO bin is designed for all organic material that has grown in your garden or on your property. This includes:

    • Weeds
    • Garden clippings
    • Twigs and sticks
    • Pruning, cuttings and trimmings
    • Palm fronds and leaves etc.

    Food waste and mass amounts of sand are not acceptable in the GO bin. The contents will be sent to a composting facility where it will be processed into compost for use on farms, parks, and gardens.

    Please note: there is a 70kg weight limit on all bins. 

    To find a detailed list on what to do with your waste visit Recycle Right. 

  • Your recycling bin is for recyclables such as:

    • Aluminium and steel cans
    • Cardboard - boxes, egg cartons and inner tubes from toilet roll and paper towel, milk/juice cartons (not silver lined UHT long life cartons)
    • Paper - newspaper, paper bags, computer paper, envelopes, magazines, junk mail, paper wrapping paper (not shredded paper)
    • Plastic bottles and containers without lids (no polystyrene foam or meat trays)
    • Glass - bottles and jars (remove lids, metal lids go in recycling bin)

    All items should be empty, rinsed, and dry. Remove lids and place in the bin loose (small lids to be placed in general waste bin).

    Do not place recyclables in bin bags.

    Please note: there is a 70kg weight limit on all bins. 

    The contents of this bin are sent to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to be sorted and sent to manufacturers to be recycled into new products. To see inside the Bibra Lake’s MRF, check out Veolia’s online tour.

    The City highly encourages residents to participate in the WA Containers for Change program that refunds ten cents for approved recyclable containers > https://www.containersforchange.com.au/wa.

  • Your general waste bin should always be a last resort. This bin is for:

    • Non-recyclable general waste
    • Food scraps
    • Items contaminated with food, such as paper towels, serviettes, tissues, paper plates, soiled pizza boxes and fish and chip paper
    • Nappies/ sanitary items
    • Shredded paper
    • Clothing that cannot be sent to charity
    • Soft plastics
    • Cigarette butts

    Please note: there is a 70kg weight limit on all bins. 

    The contents of this bin will be sent to the Kwinana Energy Recovery facility where your waste will be converted into energy.

  • Some items should not be place into any of your bins, including:

    • Batteries (car or household)
    • Fluorescent tubes or CFL’s (compact fluorescent lamps)
    • Electronic equipment (e-Waste)
    • Aerosol cans
    • Gas cylinders
    • Hot or burning ashes
    • Oils or poisons
    • Acid or hazardous waste
    • Sand, bricks, mortar, concrete
    • Large, heavy, sharp objects
    • Asbestos
    • Motor vehicle parts, tyres, oil filters
    • Pathological or cytotoxic waste
    • Medical waste

    These items should be taken to an appropriate waste disposal facility. Fees may apply.

    To find a detailed list on what to do with your waste visit Recycle Right.

Will my collection area or day change?

Yes, some collection areas and days will change from 31 March 2025. Our updated collection routes align with suburb borders to improve efficiency with the introduction of the GO bin. Your collection day or recycling week may have changed. To confirm your waste collection days, view the find my bin day webpage

How much will the third bin cost me?

The Three Bin GO service will cost approximately $35 per household per year more than the current service. The additional charge was introduced in the 2024/2025 financial year to cover rollout costs and will end in 2026/2027. The City will continue to work hard to ensure we provide you the best value for money for your waste service. 

Do all properties receive a third bin?

The lime green lidded 240L GO bin will automatically be given to all residential properties over 350m2 as they typically have larger gardens. Commercial properties will not be included for this reason.

If you’re on a smaller property or a multi-unit dwelling/apartments you can opt in at any time (subject to approval). 

Opt in for a GO bin 

Can I opt out of the service?

All properties greater than 350mthat have automatically received a GO bin will be unable to Opt-Out of the service.

Can I order additional bins?

Yes, you can. Additional bins can be provided by the City at additional cost. See the Council Fees and Charges on our website for detailed information on all waste related costs, including additional bins. Once requested, a pro-rata cost will be automatically added to your rates notice.

If you have a 240L recycling bin, you can upgrade to a larger 360L bin for free.

To order an additional bin, or to upgrade your recycling bin for free, apply below or contact our contractor Veolia on 1300 293 955.

Request an Additional Bin

You must be the property owner to order an additional bin.

Tenants must get written approval from the property owner or property manager to request an additional service as additional charges apply.

Will the smaller general waste bin (red lidded) be big enough?

Currently, over a third of waste bin content in Kwinana is organics. This content will move out of your general waste bin into the GO bin if separated correctly. The three bin GO systems increases total bin capacity each week by 20L.

If you find you require additional bin space for waste, recycling or garden organics, you can choose to order additional bins from the City, at an additional cost. See Council Fees and Charges on our website for detailed information on all waste related costs, including additional bins. Once requested, these costs will be automatically added to your rates. To order an additional bin, or to upgrade your recycling bin for free, contact our contractor Veolia on 1300 293 955.

You must be the property owner to order an additional bin.

Tenants must get written approval from the property owner or property manager to request an additional service as additional charges apply.

If you misuse your bins, such as placing general waste in your GO or recycling bin, you may receive a $350 infringement, with a maximum penalty up to $5,000, in accordance with the City's Waste Local Law and may also have your recycling and GO service removed.

If you’re unsure how to use your bin, visit Recycle Right or contact our contractor Veolia on 1300 293 955.

Does this affect our verge collections?

With the decision to introduce a GO bin in 2024/25, the current verge collection service has been reviewed to ensure the City provides the most efficient verge collection service for the Kwinana community’s needs going forward.

The City has decided to move to a Pre-Booked Verge Collection service from July 2025. Find out more on our Pre-Booked Verge Collection Page

Can I get mulch or compost?

The compost created from the collection of Kwinana’s GO bin material is processed on a commercial scale. While there is no ability to sell this material directly back to residents from the processor, the material does end up in widely available compost products sold by a range of retailers throughout the Perth metro area.

The product is called Vitagro soil conditioner and is available at:

  • Bibra Lake Soils
  • Creation Landscape Supplies
  • Green Life Soil Co
  • Hills Landscaping Supplies
  • Maddington Landscape & Garden Supplies
  • Mazzegas Landscaping Supplies
  • Screening Trees WA
  • Slab & Garden City, Osborne Park, Bayswater, Carlisle
  • Soils r Us, Joondalup & Ellenbrook
What is Kwinana Energy Recovery?

Kwinana Energy Recovery (KER) is a process where residual waste is thermally treated to generate and produce electricity, significantly reducing CO2 emissions compared to landfilling waste and using fossil fuels to generate electricity.

The City’s general waste bin material is now delivered to KER in Naval Base. This facility will produce 36MW of baseload electricity to the Southwest Interconnected System electricity grid. This is the equivalent of taking 85,000 cars off Perth’s roads, powering 50,000 Perth households every year.

KER will not only process residential waste into energy, but it will also produce ash by-products which are used internationally for construction materials, recovering over 6,000 tonnes per year of recyclable material not normally recovered by other means. Metallic materials from the waste feed will be recovered and recycled, while other by-products will be sorted out for reuse as construction materials.

Find out more at Kwinana Energy Recovery

What happens if the wrong thing ends up in the GO bin?

If you misuse your bins, such as placing general waste in your GO or recycling bin, you may receive a $350 infringement with a maximum penalty up to $5,000, in accordance with the City Waste Local Law and may also have your recycling and GO service removed.

The City’s emphasis is on educating the community. City officers will aim to give verbal or written advice first rather than infringe. Fines will generally only be given when repeated advice is not acted upon, or when dangerous/hazardous goods are placed out for collection that creates an unacceptable level of risk. We highly encourage you to reach out to us for support if needed.

Together we can be part of a greater community movement to manage waste in a more sustainable manner, improving resource recovery and protecting expensive infrastructure, people and our environment. 

If you’re unsure how to use your bin, visit Recycle Right or contact our contractor Veolia on 1300 293 955.

Why did the City decide to move to a GO bin system?

In October 2022, the City surveyed our community and received 877 responses from passionate residents.

We advertised this survey by sending a flyer to every household within the City advising a survey was live through Love My Kwinana, asking you to be a “Bin-fluencer” and to have your say on your preferred bin system. In addition to this flyer we advertised this survey on numerous occasions in October 2022 through print and social media.

Once the survey closed, the City hosed an event in November, inviting around 80 survey participants at random to participate in an in depth focus group. The results from this focus group along with the survey results directly influenced the feasibility assessment outcomes.

What were the consultation results on the City's bin system?

The City asked numerous questions to ensure that we fully understood what you want. We found that:

Bin preference

  • 32% of residents preferred the current two bin system.
  • 66% of residents would like a third kerbside bin. Out of the 66%:

Pro-three bin

  • 60% of residents stated they would prefer a FOGO system,
  • 33% of residents would prefer a GO system, and
  • 7% didn’t mind if they went GO or FOGO.
  • 84% of residents are willing to pay something toward a three bin organics service.
  • 16% of residents would like the service but do not want to pay for it.

Against three-bin

  • 30% stated they didn’t want the third bin due to the additional cost.
  • 24% stated they didn’t want a third bin as they already compost at home
Will the City be moving to FOGO in the future?

Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) services are still quite new in Western Australia. The City’s Feasibility Assessment found there are still several challenges and risks with this type of service. Critically, there is currently not enough processors or market demand for FOGO material, which means FOGO is very expensive compared to a Garden Organics (GO) system. In Kwinana, we have far more garden organics in our waste bins than food waste, which means there is not a lot of advantage to recovering our food waste for the significant extra cost.

Changing from a 2 bin service to a 3 bin GO service recovers an additional 14% of material at an additional cost of $800,000 per annum. Changing to FOGO would only recover an additional 7% of material but would cost $1.2 million per annum more than GO. The City’s Feasibility Assessment considered a range of factors across financial, environmental, social and governance outcomes, whereby GO demonstrated the best value for money for our community at this time.

The City has not ruled out FOGO all together, but instead has committed to transitioning to GO in 2024/25 and revisiting the feasibility of FOGO by 2029/30. If by this time, the cost-benefit of FOGO has improved to the point that it represents good value for money for the Kwinana community, we will transition to a FOGO system.

Will my bin sizes change?

Yes, you will receive a new 140L red lid general waste bin and a 240L lime lid Garden Organics (GO) bin.

The City also offers free recycling bin upgrades to increase your recycling bin to 360L.

If you need more space, additional bins are available (fees apply).

Will businesses be getting GO bins?

No, commercial properties will not receive GO bins, as they typically don’t generate garden organics. Commercial properties are also unable to opt into this service.

I have a medical condition and need a bigger bin.

The City will provide medical exemptions for residents with proven medical conditions generating excess waste. They will receive an additional 140L general waste bin, free of charge.

To apply, submit a Medical Exemption request, with an attached Medical Exemption Service Application Form signed by your doctor.

I have a large family with multiple children in nappies?

Unfortunately, the City cannot provide an exemption for large families or children in nappies. We encourage everyone to sort their waste in the correct bins to sufficiently utilise all available bin space. Find some great recycling and waste reduction tips.

The City also provides excellent composting, worm farming and reusable nappy subsidies. Please make use of these on your waste reduction journey.

If you're doing all of this and still have problems with space, you can order additional bins. Please be aware owner approval is required as fees apply.

Do I get the GO bin if I live in a multi-unit dwelling (MUD) complex with shared bins?

After the initial rollout period, MUDs will be considered on a case by case basis to determine the most suitable collection service for their needs.

If you are a strata manager and want to opt in to the GO service, please contact the City to start this process.

Why do I have shapes on my bin lids?

The City has introduced tactile shapes on all residential bin lids to assist vision-impaired residents. These shapes make it easier for everyone to identify bins by touch.

The standard tactile shapes are:

  • Square: General Waste
  • Triangle: Recycling
  • Circle: Organics

This initiative is part of our commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible community for all residents.

How do I maintain and clean my bins?

The City's waste contractor can repair bins with loose or missing lids, wheels or missing parts free of charge. To request a bin repair or replacement bin, please contact the City's contractor on 1300 293 955.

To keep your bins clean:

  • GO Bin: Rinse regularly and use dry garden materials (sticks) at the bottom of the bin to avoid wet garden materials sticking.
  • Recycling Bin: Ensure items are clean and dry before disposal.
  • Waste Bin: Double-bag odorous waste and keep the lid closed to avoid pests.
What if I already pay for an additional general waste bin?

All additional general waste bins will be swapped to a 140L red lidded general waste bin by our contractors, residents will not need to do anything for this to be completed other than put your bins out on their scheduled day. The cost of the additional 140L general waste bin will be slightly reduced from $265:

  • 2024/25 - $226 p.a. 140L additional bin fee
  • 2025/26 - $233 p.a. 140L additional bin fee
How did the City of Kwinana inform and engage the community about the waste rollout survey, and why were there fewer than 900 responses?

The City engaged with the community early in the process through a range of communication channels to encourage participation in the waste rollout survey, which received 896 responses.

To reach as many residents as possible, the City:

  • Delivered over 12,000 postcards to households
  • Advertised in the Advential and the Spirit eNewsletter
  • Emailed pre-registered residents
  • Shared six boosted (paid) Facebook posts over four weeks
  • Made printed copies of the survey available at the Library and the City Administration building for those without internet access

While 896 responses represent a small portion of the population, the City promoted the opportunity widely and aimed to make it accessible to all residents - giving as many people as possible the opportunity to have their input. More information is available in the Three Bin Feasibility Assessment Report:

View the Three Bin Feasibility Assessment Report

 

What happens if I have received my new general waste bin but not the green lidded GO bin

Provided you are residing on a property over 350m², or have decided to opt in for the new garden organic (GO) bin this is normal.

Because the rollout is being completed over a number of weeks with repeat visits to each suburb the delivery of your GO bin my be completed a fortnight later on your non-recycling week. If your rollout is still incomplete (lid change or delivering new GO bin) by the 6th of June or after a fortnight has passed please contact either Veolia or the City.

Here are the respective contact details:

 Veolia - 1300 293 955

City of Kwinana - customer@kwina​​na.wa.gov.au

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