Households in the Shire of Collie will have access to a third wheelie bin to recycle garden and food waste from next week, supported by funding from the Liberal National Government's Better Bins program.
The shire was granted $117,000 to expand its kerbside collection system under the initiative.
Starting on Monday, the first of about 4,000 homes will have their new lime-green lidded bins collected and emptied as part of the shire's weekly service.
Environment Minister Albert Jacob congratulated the shire for becoming the eighth local government to access funding through the Better Bins program to help with their implementation of a three-bin system to increase recycling rates.
"The three-bin system allows residents to separate their green and organic waste into a bin with a lime-green lid, co-mingled recycling into a bin with a yellow lid and general waste into a red lid bin," Mr Jacob said.
"Separating waste helps support recycling by reducing the amount of non-recyclable materials in the recycling streams. Cleaner recycling streams are cheaper and easier to recycle and result in more valuable materials.
"Less than half of Western Australia's waste stream is recycled, with materials worth millions of dollars being sent to landfill each year. That's why programs like Better Bins are crucial.
"I encourage more local governments to apply for funding under this $20 million program."
Organic materials that are produced from the garden and food waste collected in the shire will be used locally for soil improvement, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and cutting carbon emissions.
As part of the Better Bins program, the Shire of Collie joins the cities of Stirling, Bayswater and Rockingham, as well as the towns of Cambridge and Cottesloe, and the shires of Capel and Donnybrook-Balingup with three bins.
Fact File
In 2013-14, 39% of all WA's waste stream was recovered
The Western Australian Waste Strategy sets landfill diversion targets for municipal solid waste of 65% in the metropolitan area and 50% in major regional centres by 2020
Minister's office - 6552 5800
