Kerbside Waste Audits

Small changes at home can make a big difference. Putting the right thing in the right bin helps to reduce contamination, improve recycling and keep valuable resources out of landfill.

Circular North has committed to undertaking annual kerbside waste audits across northern Tasmania to better understand what is being placed in household landfill, recycling and FOGO bins. The findings of these audits will identify opportunities to improve waste sorting behaviours across the region and help guide education campaigns to support residents to sort their waste more effectively, reduce contamination and make better use of available recycling and FOGO services.

The 2025 Kerbside Audit assessed 829 waste, recycling and FOGO bins (where provided) across northern Tasmania and revealed several common issues, including recyclable materials and food waste ending up in general waste bins, and plastic bags or other non-recyclable materials contaminating recycling bins. Unfortunately, these common mix-ups are making recycling less effective, and filling landfill faster.

In fact, the audit found that more than half the materials placed in the average landfill bin could have been recycled or composted. Food and organic waste was identified as the largest source of contamination in landfill bins, particularly in municipalities without kerbside FOGO services. However, even where FOGO services are provided, high rates of food contamination remained in waste bins as FOGO bins were weighted down with garden waste. Almost one in five items placed in recycling bins belonged in general waste.

Are you interested in seeing how your municipality stacked up?

We know recycling works when we sort things right. Improved waste sorting can reduce overflowing bins, cut greenhouse gas emissions, help keep resources in circulation and puts downwards pressure on council rates when waste to landfill reduces.

Simple actions to help get things right:

• Keep recycling loose rather than bagged
• Use FOGO bins, where provided, for food scraps and garden waste
• If FOGO services are unavailable in your area, consider starting a backyard compost
• If your landfill bin is filling up, check what might belong in another bin. Plastic and glass bottles, bulky cardboard and cans are easily recycled.
• If you find your organic waste smells, freeze your food scraps until collection day
• Follow Circular North or Rethink Waste Tasmania for more waste reducing tips

By making small changes at home, residents can greatly improve the efficiency of our region’s recycling systems.