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.

Close alert
  1. Home
  2. Property and Pets
  3. Waste and Recycling
  4. Waste Legislation, Statistics and Documents

Waste Legislation, Statistics and Documents

Keep updated with how the City of Kwinana is preforming in the waste space. This page provides City statistics, information on the Waste Local Law, state strategies and much more. 

On this page

City of Kwinana Waste Performance

The City of Kwinana provides a range of waste and recycling services to our residents. Information below shows waste and recycling data collected from kerbside bins and verge collections, as well as compositional audit data and data collected from annual bin tagging program.

Annual Waste Statistics

Each year, each household in the City of Kwinana receives:

  • 52 waste bin collections  
  • 26 recycling bins collections
  • 2 bulk waste verge collections
  • 3 green waste verge collection

From these collections, the below tonnages have been collected for each waste stream over the past few years.

  • Total tonnes per year

  • Total kg per household per year

  • City of Kwinana's recovery against Waste Authority targets

                 2014-152015-162016-172017-182018-192019-202020-212021-222022-232023-24
    Population36,77238,86340,95442,67344,30745,95347,64249,46250,42753,631
    Total domestic waste generated (tonnes)18,62518,43719,18719,43217,98320,16821,45219,76420,69920,666
    Overall recovery (%)23252422252420191818
    Material recovery (%)23252422252420191818
    Energy Recovery (%)0000000000
    Waste sent to landfill (%)77757678757680818282

     

Compositional Waste Data

The City of Kwinana conducts annual waste audits on hundreds of houses throughout the City. The City weighs all waste by their material type to see how we are performing.

Compositional audits are conducted regularly throughout the City with the following findings:

  • 14% of the waste bin was comprised of recyclable materials
  • 39% of the waste bin contained organics 
  • 32% of the recycling bin was comprised of general waste, resulting in high contamination rates
    The contamination found within the recycling bin comprised 8% non-recyclable plastic and 7% e-waste

  • The chart and table below show what was found in General Waste bins during compositional audits conducted in 2025:

    Organics

    37.88%

    Earth

    0.93%

    Textile

    3.67%

    Medial

    0.00%

    Pathogenic

    6.38%

    Hazadous

    0.58%

    Other plastic

    7.33%

    E-Waste

    10.91%

    Other 

    15.27%

    Miscellaneous

    3.47%

    Recycling13.57%

  • The chart and table below show what was found in Recycling bins during compositional audits conducted in 2025:

    Paper

    8.99%

    Cardboard

    28.43%

    Plastics

    7.22%

    Glass

    20.32%

    Steel

    1.56%

    Aliminium 

    1.04%

    General Waste*

    32.43%

    *For a breakdown of the general waste found in recycle bins navigate to the next tab (Compositional Audit - Recycling Bin Contamination).

     

  • The chart and table below show what prohibited items contaminating Recycle bins during compositional audits conducted in 2025:

    Organics

    4.32%

    Earth

    0.00%

    Textile

    12.73%

    Medial

    0.00%

    Pathogenic

    1.48%

    Hazadous

    0.80%

    Other plastic

    24.27%

    E-Waste

    21.83%

    Other 

    25.96%

    Miscellaneous

    8.69%

Want to learn more about how we’re preforming?

Visit the MyCouncil Waste and Recycling dashboard for more information.

Waste Local Law 2022

The City of Kwinana has adopted a local law relating to waste and refuse.

The City’s Waste Local Law was introduced so that residents can be part of a greater community movement to manage waste and recycling in a more sustainable manner, improving resource recovery and better protecting infrastructure, people and our environment.

Waste Local Law FAQ's

What does the introduction of the Waste Local Law mean to residents?

It means that residents can be part of a greater community movement to manage waste and recycling in a more sustainable manner, improving resource recovery and protecting expensive infrastructure, people and our environment.

Why does the City need a Waste Local Law?

Undertaking waste and recycling collections is not without risk to the environment and our neighbourhood amenities unless managed properly. The City needs a Waste Local Law that aims to ensure waste is disposed of correctly and safely, protecting, assets and our environment.

Is the Waste Local Law completely new?

Many elements of the City’s Waste Local Law are not new. The Waste Local Law has consolidated waste and recycling requirements into one document to simplify and strengthen the sustainable management of waste and recycling in Kwinana.

Does the Waste Local Law mean residents can be fined for doing the wrong thing with their waste and recycling?

The City’s emphasis is on educating the community. 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.

What are hazardous goods?

Asbestos, batteries, gas bottles/aerosol cans, containers of chemicals, oils and flares are some items that are considered hazardous. For more information, see Household Hazardous Waste Information and Disposal Sites.

Why fine people for placing hazardous and dangerous goods for collection?

Hazardous wastes are items that have the potential to be dangerous to the community and environment if not disposed of in the correct manner. They can cause fires, explosions, spills or other hazards that may result in injuries, death and damage.

Does this mean that the City will be checking residents’ bins?

The introduction of the Waste Local Law is not intended to increase bin audits. Audits are conducted when the City receives a complaint from the public or by our contractors. All collection trucks used in the City of Kwinana are fitted with onboard cameras to improve safety, provide service confirmation and identify contamination.

The City has an education-first approach and will continue the annual bin tagging education program with the aim to reduce waste going to landfill and improve recycling rates in Kwinana. Bin tagging is intended to help residents recycle more effectively and is not used for enforcement purposes. Bins are not checked until placed out for collection. 

What are some of the things the Waste Local Law prohibits and what will these cost in fines?

Some of the key things the Waste Local Law prohibits include:

  • Putting hazardous wastes in bins ($350) or the verge collection ($400).
  • Placing your bulk and green wastes out too early or too late ($400).
  • Putting recyclable materials in your general waste bin ($350).
  • Putting garden or general waste in your recycle bin ($350).
  • Illegal dumping will incur a $500 fine and the cost of clean-up and disposal.

City of Kwinana Waste Plan 2021-2025

The City’s Waste Plan ensures that waste avoidance and environmental protection is an integral part of the City’s activities. The City aims to achieve a sustainable, cost effective and best practice approach to waste management that supports our community, economy and environment. The Waste Plan has been guided by the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007 and the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030. The Waste Plan’s overarching objectives directly align with those of the Waste Strategy 2030 as follows;

  1. Avoid; generate less waste
  2. Recover; recover more value and resources from waste
  3. Protect; protect the environment by managing waste responsibly

To ensure that we are working towards these goals, the City needs you to avoid, recover and protect our environment by thinking before you throw.

To find out more, view our plan here:

Waste Plan 2021-2025

City of Kwinana Litter and Illegal Dumping Plan

To enhance and protect our environment, the City is committed to preventing litter and illegal dumping, removing litter and illegal dumping as soon as practicable, and educating our community as litter and illegal dumping can cause significant environmental, social and economic impacts, including reduced visual amenity, harm to wildlife and costly clean-ups.

To ensure that we are working towards our goals in the Waste Plan, the City created a Litter and Illegal Dumping Plan in 2023 outlining goals as well as actions planned to achieve our goals. The goals of this plan are to:

  1. Reduce litter and illegal dumping
  2. Improve how litter and illegal dumping is managed
  3. Increase community awareness and empowerment  

Read the Litter and Illegal Dumping Plan 

Kwinana's Road to GO (Garden Organics)

In 2022/23, the City of Kwinana undertook a detailed review of its waste services to ensure they meet the needs of our growing community and support long-term sustainability goals.

As part of this process, we surveyed residents and received 877 responses from engaged community members. We then invited around 80 of those respondents to take part in an in-depth focus group. The feedback gathered played a crucial role in shaping the City's Three Bin Feasibility Assessment and final decision.

After carefully weighing environmental, economic, social, and governance factors, the City chose to introduce a Three Bin Garden Organics (GO) system. While a full Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) system offered slightly better material recovery, it also came with significantly higher costs, increased emissions, and greater implementation risks. At the time, these factors made FOGO less viable.

Find below a summary of the factors (economic, environmental, social, and governance) considered in the decision to choose GO:

  • 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

The GO system, combined with Energy Recovery for general waste, provided a more practical and cost-effective solution that still delivered environmental benefits. It also offered a simpler transition for the community.

Residents not automatically receiving a GO bin were given the option to opt in. A strong education and engagement campaign supported the community throughout the rollout.

The City plans to revisit the potential for a full FOGO system around 2029/30, as technology improves and the business case strengthens.

Read the City's Three Bin Feasibility Assessment

Transition to Pre-booked Verge Collection

In 2024, the City of Kwinana reviewed its verge collection service, considering environmental, social, economic, and governance factors. Guided by the City’s Sustainability Framework and the State’s Waste Strategy 2030, we chose the pre-booked system as the best option.

Launched in July 2025, this system lets residents book verge collections as needed, offering greater flexibility and cleaner streets. Residents can also pay for extra collections beyond their annual allowance.

This change improves recycling, delivers better value, and provides a more efficient waste service for the community.

Read the Verge Collection Service Review Report

Development Guidelines for Waste Services - Waste Management Plans

The City of Kwinana’s Development Guidelines for Waste Services provide developers with clear and practical standards to design and integrate effective, safe, and compliant waste infrastructure into new projects. These guidelines ensure adherence to all relevant legislation while promoting innovative, best-practice waste management and recycling strategies that align with the State’s waste reduction targets.

Developers are required to complete the accompanying Waste Management Plan Checklist and submit it along with their development application to demonstrate compliance with the guidelines.

View the Waste Management Plan Checklist

Development Guidelines for Waste Services

More information and contacts

State Waste Strategy

State Governments Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030 outlines strategic goals to achieve significant improvements in recycling, waste reduction, construction, and demolition waste diversion, and better managing commercial and industrial waste.

To view this Strategy, visit Waste Authority’s website.

WA Plastic Ban

The WA Government is implementing strategies to reduce the impacts of single-use plastics, including bans on problematic plastic items.

To find out what is coming in this ban, and alternative products, visit WA Plastic Ban. 

Popular links

Site Links

Quick Links

Keep Up to Date

Contact

City of Kwinana kaditj kalyakoorl moondang-ak kaaradj midi boodjar-ak nyininy, yakka wer waabiny, Noongar moort. Ngala kaditj baalap kalyakoorl nidja boodjar wer kep kaaradjiny, baalap moorditj nidja yaakiny-ak wer moorditj moort wer kaditj Birdiya wer yeyi.

The City of Kwinana acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live, work and play, the Nyoongar people. We recognise their connection to the land and local waterways, their resilience and commitment to community and pay our respect to Elders past and present.

Go to top of the page