Community & Business
10 April, 2025
Recycling success
DESPITE not having a kerbside recycling service like their neighbours, Mareeba Shire residents continue to do their best to make use of recyclable items, with more than 8.9 million beverage containers alone returned through the Containers for Change scheme in the past year.
Latest figures also show that during the month of February, residents brought in 1,110 chemical drums, 469 metals and 612 engine oil containers to the shire’s waste transfer stations, and council transported 7.4 tonnes of domestic items to be recycled at the Cairns Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).
The Containers for Change scheme is also reaping financial benefits for individuals and groups, with returns for 2024 estimated to have put almost $900,000 in 10-cent refunds back into their pockets.
Mareeba Shire was one of the first councils in Queensland to sign up to the outdoor recycling initiative, and has boosted its number of bag drops, installing a recycling station at the end of Arara Street, Kuranda last year and five street bins in Kuranda in February.
Residents and visitors can use the street bins to recycle eligible containers, with the proceeds being donated to the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal.
Mareeba Deputy Mayor Cr Lenore Wyatt is an avid supporter of recycling and is excited to learn of the latest figures.
“There are so many items that can be recycled at your local transfer station,” she said.
“In February, it was interesting to learn that by far the most recycled item was chemical drums, followed by engine oil and different metals.
“It was encouraging to see that household batteries are also being taken to the transfer stations for recycling. Batteries can be very dangerous when damaged and have caused fires when placed in wheelie bins, so please remember, never bin a battery!”
Whether Mareeba Shire residents will be offered a kerbside recycling service like Tablelands Regional Council has is yet to be decided.
In its 2023-24 annual report, TRC advised it sent 1036 tonnes of kerbside collection recyclables for processing to the Cairns MRF.
Cr Wyatt says the council is currently undergoing an expression of interest (EOI) for its waste services “to better understand the synergies that exist to improve waste services for future tenders, along with providing a better understanding of the capabilities of the private sector in Far North Queensland”.
“Once the EOI process is complete, council will call for tenders for a range of waste services and this will include prices for possible kerbside recycling,”
Cr Wyatt said.
“Once we have these costs, council will be able to survey the community to determine the level of interest.”
Meanwhile, residents can drop off recyclable items at the shire’s waste transfer station without charge. From the transfer station, a waste contractor delivers the recyclable items to the MRF.
The Container Exchange Point is located at 11 Bowers Street, Mareeba and there are three bag drop sites located at the carpark next to the Mareeba Heritage Museum along Byrnes Street; at the end of Arara Street behind the Kuranda Library; and in the carpark in Raleigh Street, Dimbulah.
To find out how more about recycling and how to use the Containers for Change program, go to www.msc.qld.gov.au/council/water-and-waste/ and click on recycling.
