Recycling offenders face $600 fines for putting items in the wrong bins 

Serial recycling offenders could be slapped with a $660 fine and risk having their bin collection cancelled for dumping waste in the wrong receptacles – but people who do the right thing could win $100.

Residents of the Mornington Peninsula Shire in southern Victoria were urged on Monday to ‘take recycling seriously’ in a crackdown by the local council. 

Locals who continue to place garbage, such as food scraps, in recycling bins after July 1 will receive three warnings within a six-month period before they are fined.

Residents of the Mornington Peninsula Shire in southern Victoria were urged on Monday to ‘take recycling seriously’ in a crackdown by the local council

A fourth bin contamination occurrence will result in bin collection suspension.

Collection for repeat offenders will only be reinstated if the resident signs an agreement vowing never to dump rubbish incorrectly again, and attend an education session.

Residents who have their garbage collection cancelled will continue to pay for waste removal services. 

Bins will be checked at random, and households that dispatch of garbage and recycling correctly ill go into a monthly draw to win a $100 voucher.

Mayor Councillor Despi O’Connor said recycling bins contaminated with non-recyclable goods cost ratepayers about $600,000 per year.  

‘A contaminated bin or truck load is not only a burden to the environment adding to landfill, but also comes at a significant cost,’ she said.  

Common items wrongly put into recycling bins include food waste, garden waste, soft plastics such as cling wrap, textiles and polystyrene.

Broken glass is also not recyclable, and pizza boxes can’t be recycled if there is a large amount of grease in them.

Food containers need to be rinsed first to remove all food waste before being recycled.