New Rules for Green Bins in Western Australia

It is from 102.5 ABC Perth.

The topic is about recycling and waste management.

The article was published on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 2:14 pm.

There are new rules about what can go into green bins in Western Australia.

Here is a short summary:

The rules for green organic bins have changed, and some items are no longer allowed.

This change may cause confusion and upset among residents who are already unhappy with the reduced general waste collection.

What happens next?

The president of the WA local government association, Mark Irwin, wants the state government to explain the changes clearly.

The state government has changed the rules for green bins, and some items are no longer allowed.

The new rules are meant to make it easier for households to sort their waste, and only certain items can go into the green bins.

This change may cause problems for local councils, which have been dealing with community resistance to the green bin program.

There have been changes to what can go into green-lidded bins.

The green bin program was introduced to reduce waste, but it has been difficult for some households to adjust.

The goal is to create pure compost.

Mark Irwin explained that the changes are necessary to ensure that the waste is pure and can be composted effectively.

He said that if the wrong items are put into the green bins, it can cause problems and make the waste unusable.

The changes are meant to make sure the waste is pure.

Mark Irwin thinks a bigger communication strategy is needed for the green bin program.

Some items that were thought to be compostable are not compatible with the current systems.

A small amount of contamination can cause big problems.

If the wrong items are put into the waste streams, it can create an exploding effect and make the waste unusable.

Forever chemicals can infect everything.

Some products, including bin liners and takeaway containers, contain forever chemicals that do not break down.

These chemicals can infect everything in the waste stream.

FOGO bin liners are compostable.

Food-soiled packaging items cannot be recycled.

People are advised to put these items into the red general waste bins.

Further changes to the green bin program may cause residents to ask for weekly general waste collection again.

People are struggling to understand the new rules.

Some people are finding it hard to free up space in their general waste bins by putting food waste in the green bins.

Other items, like packaging, take up a lot of space in the bins.

There is a call for leadership in waste management.

The rule changes were quietly updated on the waste authority website and are being shared by local councils on social media.

The state government needs to implement a more comprehensive communication strategy.

The president of the WA local government association will continue to talk to the minister and the state government about leadership in waste management.

The lids of council-supplied caddies show what can go into green bins.

The changes mean that some information printed on the bins and kitchen caddies is now incorrect.

It is a challenge for councils to deal with the changes and the community's reaction.

Councils are looking for strong leadership and sufficient funding to manage the waste.

Any changes in the waste space cost tens of millions of dollars.

The WA Waste Authority has been contacted for comment.

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