Information

BIN COLLECTION TIPS Follow these steps to ensure your bin is put out correctly: * Put your bin out the night before your collection day * Leave a one metre gap between each bin and any obstructions, e.g. trees, cars, power poles * Place bins close to the road with handles facing your property * Ensure bins are closed * Do not overfill bins or leave rubbish beside them (overfilled bins will not be collected) * Bins must not weigh more than 80 kilograms * Bins must be returned to your property within 48 hours after a scheduled collection day

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What are the benefits of the LoopedIn Councils Waste App? This App has been created to provide you with information about waste and recycling services in the Macedon Ranges Shire Council. The App provides: * a personalised bin collection calendar for residents, with optional reminders * an A-Z list of materials (with accompanying images) and a colour-coded guide showing which bin items belong in * further information, hints and tips to help with waste management * information about Council’s waste and recycling services and facilities, including opening hours and locations * notifications of changes to collection dates, events and programs * access to green waste vouchers Will the LoopedIn Councils App run on any smartphone or tablet? No. The App is only available on Apple iOS (for iPhones) and Google Android (for various phones and tablets). This covers around 90% of the market in Australia. What about App updates? The App is updated periodically, and you can turn on automatic updates in the settings of your device.  Will I have to enter my street address and suburb each time I use the App? No. The App will recall information for the last loaded street address. That way, only information specific to your collection area will be displayed. How do the bin reminders work? Set a reminder from the ‘settings’ page of the app. You can choose to the time that you want to be reminded the day before.

‘It doesn’t matter what I put in my recycling bin because it all ends up in landfill.’ False. Your recycling is collected by a dedicated fleet of recycling trucks and taken to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). Council collects tonnes of paper, cardboard, plastic and metals from households each year. These materials are sorted and prepared for processing into new products and packaging.   ‘The triangle symbol means it can be recycled.’ Not always. The triangle recycling symbol can mean that the product is made from recycled content or that it is recyclable.  Triangle recycling symbol The plastic identification code (triangle symbol made from arrows with a number in the middle) indicates the type of plastic that the item is made from. Not all of these plastics can be recycled, and some may require specialist recycling. Materials such as polystyrene display this symbol but can’t be placed into your recycling bin (yellow lid).  Plastic identification code Always check the list of accepted items before placing in your recycling bin.   ‘I have to wash all my recycling before I put it in the bin.’ False. Rinsing helps to minimise odours in your bin and keep other materials clean, however, there is no need to spend lots of time and water washing your recycling throughly. As long as your recycling is empty of food and liquid, it can go straight in your recycling bin. 

RECYCLING TIPS * Items don’t need to be washed thoroughly before they are placed in the recycling bin. You just need to ensure that items are empty so remove solid food scraps and liquids or give a light rinse.   * Remember to put your recycling loose into your recycling bin. If you put your recycling into plastic bags, it cannot be recycled.    * As part of the Shire wide soft plastics pilot, soft plastics can be placed in special orange recycling bags and placed in your yellow lid recycling bin. Learn more about the trial on our website mrsc.vic.gov.au/soft-plastics   * Creating ‘bin stations’ in your house helps make sorting your waste easy and convenient. Try setting up a small version of the four-bin system at high-traffic points in your home to increase your recycling.   * Deconstruct and flatten cardboard boxes to make more room in your recycling bin.   WASTE REDUCTION TIPS   * Try shopping consciously and look for everyday items that come in recyclable or biodegradable packaging. This will help reduce the amount of waste that your household generates.   * Buy in bulk. It’s often cheaper to buy items in bulk and they often come without unnecessary packaging filling up your bins.   * Be food smart. Items displaying a ‘use by’ date must be consumed before or on that date. A ‘best before’ date gives you an idea of how long foods will last before they lose their quality. Consider stocking up your freezer so you can extend the life of some consumable items.   * Remember to take your reusable shopping bags with you to the shops.   * For more tips on reducing your waste, visit our website mrsc.vic.gov.au/reduce