Wherever you are in the world, it’s always a good idea to get familiar with your local waste pickup schedule, and Mackay is no exception.
Whether you’re a business or an individual, this knowledge will help you stay on top of your garbage and maintain a clean environment. It’ll avoid annoying misunderstandings and overflowing bins, and help you avoid getting into trouble with the neighbours and the council.
Understanding how the waste collection system works will also help you recycle more effectively, by ensuring all your waste materials go in the correct bins.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the main things you need to know about Mackay’s waste collection system, and how you can comply with the rules. Let’s get started.
Household Collection
Understanding the household collection schedule helps you make sure you put out your bins for collection at the right time every week. It helps you plan your waste management and avoid the smelly and unpleasant situation of an overflowing bin.
When Do My Bins Get Collected?
Collection times vary depending on your location in Mackay. To find out the exact times for your address, you can click here and follow the prompts.
What Are the Rules?
It’s always best to comply with the rules to avoid getting into trouble and causing problems for others. Here are the main general rules for waste management in Mackay:
- Always check it’s the correct day of service when putting your bins out
- Make sure the bin is in position by 6am on the collection day
- Place the bin on the footpath, next to the kerb, with the handle pointing towards the house
- Make sure the bin is easy to access
- Make sure all materials are in the correct bin (general waste or recycling)
- Make sure the bin isn’t blocking any pedestrian pathways or obstructing vehicle access
- Try not to overfill bins — ideally, the lid should be able to close fully
- Any loose rubbish, such as kitchen scraps and grass clippings, should be bagged (unless it’s for recycling)
- Try not to overload your bin — it shouldn’t weigh more than 70kg
- Don’t put pressure pumps, generators, gas bottles, or pressurised energy systems in your bins
Recycling in Mackay
It’s important to make sure all your waste goes in the correct bin. That means separating general waste from recyclable waste. The bins in Mackay are coloured to help you tell them apart — here’s what should go into each bin.
The Red or Green Lidded Bin: General Waste
The general waste bins in Mackay now have a red lid, although some of the older green lids are still around. They’re both for non-recyclable waste. Here is a list of things that should not go in these bins:
- Bricks, rocks, soil, or concrete
- Large metal objects
- Building materials
- Liquids, such as paints, motor oil, or solvents
- Toxic or corrosive substances
- Needles and syringes
Yellow-lidded bins: Recycling
Mackay’s yellow lidded bins are for recycling. This includes the following materials:
- Aluminium cans, steel cans, and aerosols
- Plastic bottles and containers
- Paper and cardboard
- Milk and juice cartons
- Glass bottles and jars
There’s also a list of objects that should not go in your yellow recycling bin. Here it is:
- Garden waste
- Disposable nappies
- Food scraps
- Plastic bags
- Clothing
- Ceramics and ovenware
- Garden hoses
- Pots, pans, and any large steel items
- Light bulbs, mirrors, and window glass
Some General Rules to Follow
Apart from following the council’s instructions, it’s always good to practice some basic courtesy with your bins, to avoid annoying your neighbours and anyone walking by your house.
Here are some good general rules to follow:
- Bring in your bins straight away after collection, if you can. This stops them cluttering pavements and leaving smells around the public spaces outside your home.
- Try not to throw away food on collection day. Rotting food can attract wildlife to your neighbourhood and also create some pretty unpleasant odours. It’s best to throw out all your expired food at once, on the morning of collection day. If that’s not possible, try to bag it as securely as possible.
- Clean out your bins occasionally to avoid smells. Nobody wants to walk through a cloud of bin-smell every time they pass your house. Aim to clean your bins periodically to avoid odours.
- Secure your bins. Unsecured bins attract wildlife, which can spread disease and cause problems for the whole area. Try to tie up your garbage securely in bags, tie up the lids of bins if possible, and weigh down the lid with a heavy stone or rock.
Keeping on top of your waste and bins is easy if you get into the right habits and get familiar with the local schedule and rules. It helps make life easier for the community, your neighbours, and you.
At Tailored Services, it’s our job to help you stay on top of all your cleaning tasks. We work to build relationships with our clients so we can get to know your needs and deliver the best cleaning services for you.
To find out more about how we can help, get in touch today.