Kerbside bin collection trucks get a new look

As part of Council’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible resource recovery, the Veolia bin collection trucks servicing Hepburn Shire have new informative messaging aimed at educating residents on how to better manage and reduce their household waste. 

Bruce Lucas, Director Infrastructure and Delivery, said that the new look trucks will serve as a mobile educational tool, raising awareness about getting the right items into each bin. 

The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce what is sent to landfill and increase participation in local recycling programs. The trucks feature Sustainability Victoria developed graphics with clear and concise messages on how to sort waste correctly at home.  

“The key messages we want to get across to the community are to keep bags out of your recycling and food and garden organics bin, how to recycle properly, and ensuring that food and garden organics collected has no contamination given it is being made into compost to be used to improve local soils in our parks and open spaces,” said Mr Lucas.  

“We are excited to introduce this new campaign and bring educational messages directly to our residents using kerbside collection trucks. This is an exciting way to turn everyday bin collection into an educational opportunity. We’re hopeful that this initiative will spark conversations at the community level and inspire individuals to make lasting changes,” said Mr Lucas. 

The trucks have various messages on increasing resource recovery in our region through correct sorting at home. Local residents will see the trucks traveling through their neighbourhoods as they make their regular collections, providing continuous reminders about the importance of sorting items correctly, and keeping items loose in their recycling and organics bins. 

In the new year as we reach one year since the introduction of the Food and Garden Organics collection service, we will also undertake a review of these services and how they are performing and keep community informed of this review.  

Council was able to fund these new messages on all four collection trucks thanks to a grant from Sustainability Victoria (Circular Economy Household Education Fund | Sustainability Victoria). 

For more information in Council’s bin collections and resource recovery initiatives visit www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/waste.  

Image: Scott Wade (Veolia Branch Manager Ballarat), Cr Tim Drylie, Bradley Thomas (HSC CEO), Chantelle Hatzinikitas (HSC Coordinator Resource and Recovery) Bruce Lucas (HSC Director Infrastructure and Delivery)