{"id":713086,"date":"2026-06-03T18:13:32","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T18:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/713086\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T18:13:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T18:13:32","slug":"aussie-council-shuts-down-bin-request-after-controversial-change-people-cant-make-it-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/713086\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie council shuts down bin request after controversial change: ‘People can’t make it work’"},"content":{"rendered":"

A push to give residents in one coastal LGA the option of a larger household rubbish bin<\/a> has been knocked back by council<\/a>, amid recurring concerns of overflowing waste<\/a>.<\/p>\n

City of Kwinana Councillor Balian Miller, in Perth<\/a>\u2019s east, had proposed allowing residents to upgrade to a 240-litre red-lidded bin \u2014 the standard size in many jurisdictions \u2014 for an additional annual charge.<\/p>\n

Under the proposition, it would be incorporated into the city’s fees and charges schedule.<\/p>\n

It comes as authorities across the country crack down on residents\u2019 waste to reduce the strain on landfills.<\/p>\n

Do you struggle with the size of your bin? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

For now, residents will keep their smaller red-lidded bin.<\/p>\n

(City of Kwinana)Residents stuck with smaller bins<\/p>\n

But those plans fell through, meaning the smaller, 140-litre general waste bin will remain the default service, The Sound Telegraph reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The debate comes after Kwinana recently overhauled its kerbside waste system, introducing a third, green-lidded garden organics bin while reducing the size of the standard red-lidded general waste bin as part of efforts to divert waste from landfill.<\/p>\n

Miller said concerns about bin capacity had been a recurring issue raised by residents during the 2025 local government election campaign.<\/p>\n

Residents currently have the option of paying for an additional 140-litre bin.<\/p>\n

A larger 240-litre service was expected to cost between $230 and $290 a year, broadly in line with the cost of obtaining a second smaller bin.<\/p>\n

He argued the larger bin would provide a more practical alternative for households producing extra waste without requiring them to pay for an entire second service.<\/p>\n

“Common sense should tell you it will cost less,” he said, The Sound Telegraph reported. <\/p>\n

“This is a practical, affordable bridge for people who cannot make it work with what they have right now.”<\/p>\n

\"Bins<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a recurring issue across Perth, with other councils facing similar pressure from residents about bin sizes and scheduling.<\/p>\n

(Central Coast Council\/Yahoo News Australia)What does council say?<\/p>\n

Council officers recommended against the proposal, citing conflicts with both the city’s waste management strategy and State Government environmental objectives.<\/p>\n

Miller disputed those concerns, noting similar services were already available in neighbouring local government areas.<\/p>\n

“The suggestion that Kwinana alone would face reputational or governance risk for offering a service that established metropolitan councils already offer is not a compelling argument,” he said.<\/p>\n

According to council, the smaller 140-litre bins were deliberately introduced to encourage residents to divert more material into recycling and food and garden organics streams rather than landfill.<\/p>\n

It warned that increasing general waste capacity could weaken incentives to sort waste correctly, potentially leading to higher landfill volumes and increased disposal costs.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/p>\n

Perth residents and their bin battles<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a recurring issue across Perth, with other councils facing similar pressure from residents about bin sizes and scheduling.<\/p>\n

The City of Rockingham, in particular, has been locked in a battle<\/a> with many locals over reduced pickups and smaller bins.<\/p>\n

Kwinana points to data indicating most households have adapted successfully to the three-bin system introduced last year.<\/p>\n

Figures reportedly show recycling rates have increased by more than 11 per cent since the rollout, while demand for additional bins has risen only marginally.<\/p>\n

But Miller said those figures did not necessarily reflect the level of unmet demand.<\/p>\n

“To suggest that a resident who is struggling with their bin capacity simply hasn’t been educated can be perceived as condescending,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

“People have different households, different family sizes, and different circumstances. The existence of the second-bin service is an acknowledgement that one small bin is not enough.<\/p>\n

“You cannot simultaneously say that one bin isn’t always sufficient and then say those who need more space just need to be educated.”<\/p>\n

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