Waste initiatives

Battery collection for schools

The City has developed a Battery Collection Program for schools. The program is designed to divert batteries collected from household waste that would usually end up in landfill, in efforts to avoid further damage to our environment.

Over 60 schools located within the City’s boundaries take part in the Battery Collection Program that is offered free of charge to all local schools. Students bring in old household batteries, and the City coordinates the collection of the batteries so that they can be recycled.

Schools register to be a part of the program and receive a collection bin for a central area with small containers for the classrooms if required. Students can bring in old batteries from home, the City then collects, weighs and transports the batteries to the recycling centre.

Each school will have their batteries collected at least once a semester. If the battery bin requires collection before the assigned date, contact the City on (08) 9205 8555 or via email waste.services@stirling.wa.gov.au.

If your school is located within the City’s boundaries and is interested in this program, please contact the City on (08) 9205 8555.

WasteSorted Schools

The Waste Authority's WasteSorted Schools program is for WA primary and secondary schools.

WasteSorted Schools, a program of the Waste Authority, provides support to schools across Western Australia to promote better waste management practices and behaviours, with a focus on waste avoidance and resource recovery. It also develops positive environmental values in students and the whole school community.

The program offers resources such as professional learning, curriculum materials and in-school support to plan, implement and maintain waste avoidance and resource recovery projects such as recycling, composting and worm farming.

For more information, please visit the Waste Authority WA website.

Schools incursions and workshops

Please contact the City’s waste team on waste.services@stirling.wa.gov.au to learn more about workshops available.

Reusable Sanitary Product Rebate 

The City is offering a rebate of 50% off the cost of your reusable sanitary product purchase, up to a total rebate value of $50.00. Everyday millions of single-use sanitary products, wrappers and packaging contribute to environmental pollution as they end up in landfills. These items take years to decompose, releasing harmful substances during the process.

To combat this, the City of Stirling is offering a rebate for reusable alternatives. In addition to their positive environmental impact, reusable sanitary products are easy to use and cost-effective. Making the switch can save individuals hundreds of dollars annually compared to continually purchasing single-use products. Reusable sanitary products are now widely available to purchase via online stores, chemists, major supermarkets, and shops.

Whether you’re a menstruating person or are living with light bladder leakage or incontinence, there are many sustainable options to choose from that come in a variety of shapes and sizes:

• Menstrual cups
• Period underwear
• Cloth pads
• Light bladder leakage underwear
• Reusable Incontinence underwear and pads (men’s/women’s)
• Reusable maternity nursing pads  

What is the aim of the rebate?

• To divert sanitary waste from ending up in landfill
• To help educate and transition residents to opt for reusable options over the single-use plastic based products.
• To help minimise the wastewater pollution from single-use products being incorrectly disposed of in toilets.
• To educate residents on the many easy-to-use and convenient reusable products now available in the market.  

How do I claim my sanitary product rebate?

1. Purchase your sanitary product of choice from your chosen retailer.
2. Obtain a tax receipt listing the items purchased.
3. Fill in the Reusable Sanitary Product Rebate Application Form and email it to waste.services@stirling.wa.gov.au
   1. A valid itemised tax receipt must be dated within the current financial year.
   2. Proof of City of Stirling residency (e.g. current driver’s license, utility bill or rates notice) 

Terms and conditions

• The Reusable Sanitary Product Rebate is available only to current City of Stirling residents.
• Rebate is applicable for reusable sanitary products purchases made within the current financial year of the application. The rebate cannot be paid on purchases made prior to this date.
• A rebate of 50% of the purchase price is offered, up to a maximum rebate amount of $50.
• One rebate for reusable sanitary products is available per financial year, per household in the City of Stirling.
• Proof of City of Stirling residency required (e.g. current driver’s licence, utility bill or rates notice).
• A valid tax receipt must be provided showing details of the items purchased.
• Rebates will be processed by the City’s finance team in accordance with current processes. This may take several weeks to process.
• Rebate will be sent via EFT to your nominated bank account and may take up to 4 - 6 weeks.
• Rebate is only applicable for the reusable sanitary products and not for any other related postage cost.
• Allocated budget for this rebate for the current financial year is to a maximum of $10,000. Rebates are allocated on a first come, first served basis. City of Stirling reserves the right to decline a rebate once this capped amount is reached in the current financial year. 

For more information, please contact the Customer Service Team on (08) 9205 8555 or via email waste.services@stirling.wa.gov.au.

Community waste education

The City is engaging with residents to inform them on how to best use the three bin system to reduce waste going to landfill. Part of the process is to work with communities and interest groups within the City.

The City provides:

• Workshops for community and interest groups
• Presentations at community events
• Stalls and community engagement at events.

The program is free and conducted by experienced presenters/educators.

For more information, please contact the Waste Education Team on (08) 9205 8555 or via email waste.services@stirling.wa.gov.au.

Bin tagging 

The bin tagging program is a direct, household-by-household educational program aiming to improve the recycling habits of residents and reduce contamination in their general waste and recycling bins. 

The program involves a simple visual assessment of the contents of each household’s general waste and recycling bins, followed by individual feedback about how each household can ensure their recycling and general waste bins are as healthy as can be.

The feedback is provided in the form of tags attached to the bins, explaining whether or not the bins have the correct items in them.

Who will be taking part?

Households are selected randomly across the City of Stirling to take part and auditing the content of recycling, green waste and general waste bins presented for collection.

Why is the City tagging bins?

Recycling rules in WA have changed, and it’s important to know what can and cannot be placed in your bins. While most of us have the best intentions with our waste and recycling, unfortunately many of us are putting the wrong things in our bins.

The aim of the project is to reduce the waste we send to landfill and improve recycling rates in the City of Stirling through education. Through tailored feedback on the contents of your bin, you’ll learn whether you’re on the right track, or how you can improve. 

According to WALGA, in South Australia, the use of bin tagging has reduced contamination in bins by up to 60% and increased the amount of recycling by 25%. We are striving to achieve this in the City of Stirling.

What information do you record?

Our auditing team will record any contaminants in your bin that are visible from a visual assessment. The auditors simply lift the lid and observe the items in your bin that they can see from lifting the lid.

What will be done with the information?

We’ll be analysing what the main contaminants are in peoples bins, in order to determine how we can improve our waste education. We will also be analysing whether the auditing program results in any household-by-household improvements over the six-week period.

Who has access to the information?

City of Stirling staff members.

My bin was tagged, but I didn't know I was doing anything wrong - what does this mean?

We recognise that some of the recycling rules have changed, and it can be difficult to keep up to date with what’s acceptable to recycle, and what’s not.

That’s why we’re undertaking the bin tagging program. You’ll receive specific feedback on how to get it right next time.

What can contaminate my recycling bin?

There are certain things that should and shouldn’t be placed in your recycling bin. The things that shouldn’t are considered contaminants.

When the wrong thing is placed in your recycling bin, the remaining recyclable items become contaminated and end up in landfill. In fact, one contaminated bin can contaminate an entire truckload of recyclable material.

The most common bin contaminants include:

• Recyclables in bags Recyclable items must be placed loosely in the recycling bin, and not in a bin bag. Our recycling facility does not open or empty bags for safety reasons, which means that any bagged recyclable material ends up in landfill
• Dirty containers Please rinse your containers first before placing them into your recycling bin. Recyclable materials can sit around waiting to be recycled for months on end, so we need to ensure that recyclables are as clean as possible, without any food waste. Otherwise, they can contaminate a whole bundle of recycled waste
• Lids Keeping lids on containers, bottles or jars can affect the recycling process and cause contamination, so we ask you to please remove any lids from recyclable items before placing them in the bin
• Nappies, food and green waste These items don’t belong in the recycling bin as they will contaminate the other clean recyclable materials. Your entire bin of recyclables can end up in landfill as a result
• Electronic items such as TV’s and computers Most of these items are recyclable, but not through your kerbside recycling bin. They should be taken to the Recycling Centre Balcatta or this service can be booked as part of our on demand services
• Household hazardous items such as batteries and globes These items are recyclable, but not through the recycling bin.  Take your household batteries and globes to your nearest City of Stirling Library, our Administration Building, or the Recycling Centre in Balcatta.

I don't want the City to look in my bin, what can I do?

We are undertaking this program to improve the way our residents recycle. Our auditors are conducting a simple visual check by lifting the lid of your bin and will not be going through the contents.

If you would like to be removed from this audit please contact the Waste Education Officer from the City of Stirling to discuss your concerns.

How are the areas selected for the program?

Not all households in Stirling will be audited. They will be selected at random across a range of areas within the City.

How is the program funded?

This project is funded by the State government and administered by the Waste Authority.