Yarra Ranges Council regularly checks recycling and FOGO bins before collection from households. This provides information to residents on how well they are doing with their recycling and composting efforts. You may have received a coloured tag on your bin handle:
Green to say: ‘Thanks, you’re doing great!’
Orange to say: ‘We’ve found a few items in your bin that are considered contamination. Please dispose of these more appropriately in the future.
We use these tags for educational purposes only. They are easily removed, can be recycled and any bin with a tag will still be collected as normal.
If you are unsure which items belong in which bin, check out our A-Z waste guide.
Recycling collections that include non-recyclable items cause problems for our recycling sorting process. Contaminating items can break sorting machinery and get mixed up with recyclable items, creating issues when it comes time to turn them into new products. Some items, such as batteries, can even lead to fires in trucks or at processing plants.
FOGO collections that include non-compostable items are not suitable for compost. An example of this is pet poo and kitty litter. Both contain pathogens that don't break down in the composting process. This could impact farmland if the compost is used on farms growing crops.
Yarra Ranges Council has received funding to run an education campaign between July 2024 and June 2025. The program shares information from Sustainability Victoria’s Small Acts, Big Impacts statewide education campaign with local residents through advertising, social media and displays in the local community.
Recycle Right Surveys
To help us understand the effectiveness of this program in getting the messages to our community, our Recycle Right survey is sent out at regular intervals. Residents who complete the survey can go into the draw to receive a $100 Coles Group and Myer gift card.
- Introductory survey (Baseline) – Completed – Gift card winner is Rachael from Badger Creek.
- Phase One survey –September 2024
- Phase Two survey - December 2024
- Phase Three survey - March 2025
- Phase Four survey - May 2025
Respondents who complete all five phase surveys as listed above will automatically go into the draw to win a $250 Coles Group and Myer gift card.
See the Recycle Right Survey prize draw terms and conditions (PDF)(PDF, 149KB)
For any questions about the Small Acts, Big Impacts campaign or Recycle Right surveys, please contact wastemanagement@yarraranges.vic.gov.au or call 1300 368 333.
Free Recycling and/or FOGO bins
To help educate children and young people attending schools and early years centres in Yarra Ranges about waste and recycling, Yarra Ranges Council provides up to four recycling and/or FOGO bins free of charge.
Schools and centres may select the combination of recycling and FOGO bins that suits their needs. Additional bins can be provided for a fee.
For more information, contact our Waste Education team on 1300 368 333.
VISY Recycling Education
VISY have worked with Cool Australia to create recycling education activities for early years through to Year 10 students.
To access these education resources, go to https://cool.org/visy-recycling-education-resources
For more information on the support Council can provide to schools and early years, visit https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Environment/Sustainable-communities/Sustainable-schools
Are you part of an adult community group that would like to learn more about recycling, FOGO and reducing waste? Have questions about what can and can’t go into your bins, or what future changes to our waste collections will mean for you?
Our waste education team is available for a small number of presentations to community groups* each year. Our team has previously presented to U3A, Probus Clubs, Retirement Villages and library groups. Our presentations go for around one hour with plenty of time for questions and answers.
To speak to our education team, please contact 1300 368 333 or email wastemanagement@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
*Please note – we are unable to provide presentations for school or early years groups.