; Waste education, events and programs - City of Wanneroo
Menu
Language
Search this site
Home

Waste education, events and programs

Access waste disposal education guides and learning kits, learn about the Adopt-a-Spot program and find out about our educational events, workshops, and initiatives.

Find on this page:

Our commitment to waste education

The City is dedicated to educating residents, community groups, and schools about responsible waste management. Through collaboration and education, we aim to minimise waste generation and enhance environmental sustainability across our city.

Our waste education team provides a range of waste education services for residents, community groups and schools. Education is focused on helping participants to sort their waste correctly and encouraging positive waste reduction behaviours.

Waste disposal education guides and learning kits

The City has developed resources to assist residents in using the three bin system to properly dispose of waste. These resources include a detailed waste services guide, a quick reference sorting waste flyer, and a practical learning kit – all available in multiple languages to cater to our culturally and linguistically diverse community.

Waste services guide

The Waste Services Guide provides detailed information on how and where to dispose of all types of waste.

Sorting your waste flyer

The Sorting Your Waste flyer is a two-page visual flyer showing what goes in each bin.

WasteSorted Talking my language learning kit

The WasteSorted Talking My Language learning kit is designed to help individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds understand and use a three bin system for sorting waste.

This kit includes:

  • Waste flash cards: Visual aids to help identify and sort different types of common household waste
  • Three mini bins: Hands-on tools to practice waste sorting
  • 'Sorting Your Waste' flyer: A two-page guide on using the three bin system
  • Activity sheet: Game ideas for individuals or small groups to reinforce learning.

Languages available

The kit is available with English to language translations in the following languages:

  • Amharic
  • Arabic
  • Burmese
  • English
  • French
  • Hindi
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Macedonian
  • Simplified Chinese/Mandarin
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese

Note: Kits can come in either the Garden Organics (GO) or Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) format. Please check with your local government before ordering if you are unsure which is most suitable for your area.

How to access the toolkit

  • Borrow from City Libraries: These toolkits are available for loan from City libraries.
  • Community Leaders and  Schools: Community leaders and schools within the City of Wanneroo can request the 'Waste Sorted – Talking My Language' toolkit by emailing enquiries@wanneroo.wa.gov.au. Please note stock is limited.
  • Purchase your own: Anyone can purchase the toolkit. To order, please submit the Talking my Language Toolkit online order form.

School and community groups

Expand each section below to learn more about different ways to get involved in our waste education initiatives:

School resources and support

For school incursion, waste avoidance and resource recovery support contact Waste Sorted School. This is a state funded program designed to help school engage students in becoming more sustainable and waste wise.

Our waste education team can support whole school community events with our interactive learning pop up event stand.

Email wasteeducation@wanneroo.wa.gov.au to reach our specialist schools waste education officer.

Request community group visit

Our waste educators visit local community groups to provide informative sessions on waste management and recycling. Limited sessions are available throughout the year.

If you would like to discuss a visit to your community group, please contact us by email at wasteeducation@wanneroo.wa.gov.au.

Waste workshops, tours and community activations

The City runs a range of free sustainable living workshops and tours of waste management facilities for residents throughout the year.

To stay informed about upcoming events:

Look out for out pop-up community stands

Our waste education team often attend community events like the Wanneroo Show. Look out for our pop-up tent. It's an excellent opportunity to ask questions and learn more about sustainable waste practices.

Community waste drop off weekend

The City will host an annual free community waste drop-off weekend on 5th and 6thApril 2024. Residents can dispose of tyres, e-waste, cardboard, and polystyrene.

Items accepted

Tyres

Did you know, a million tyres used as fuel in place of coal reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 19.5%? In partnership with Tyrecycle, the tyres collected will be sorted and reprocessed locally before being turned into a tyre-derived fuel.

Up to a maximum of 4 motorcycle or passenger vehicle tyres per household can be dropped off. Commercial tyres are not accepted.

This offer applies to City of Wanneroo residents only. Residents must show their driver’s licence or rates notice to drop-off (applies only to the drop-off of tyres).

E-Waste

Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in Australia. These products contain precious resources and sometimes hazardous materials that cannot be recovered through your kerbside recycling or domestic waste bins. Items collected will be disassembled by Total Green Recycling, with components made of materials such as steel, copper, aluminium and plastic recycled back into new products.

Items accepted:

  • Computers and laptops
  • iPods and mobile phones
  • Hard drives, CD and floppy drives (computer only)
  • Computer server units and UPS systems
  • Inkjet and laserjet printers, scanners and copiers
  • LCD, plasma and CRT monitors and televisions
  • Modems and network devices
  • Keyboards, mice and joysticks
  • Circuit boards
  • Cardboard.

If you have too much cardboard for your recycling bin, it can be dropped off for recycling.

Polystyrene

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) – the rigid white packaging commonly surrounding bulky whitegoods or electronic goods – can be dropped off for recycling. It will be recycled into granules which are then used to make other plastic products, diverting it from landfill.

Meat trays, cups, beads or other expanded plastics will not be accepted.

 

Items not accepted

The following items are not accepted but can be taken to Tamala Park or Balcatta Recycling Centre. Fees may apply.

  • Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) out of casing, smashed or cracked screens.
  • Whitegoods, such as air conditioners, fridges, freezers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, microwaves, digital cameras, DVD/VCR/CD players, radios, power tools, audio visual equipment, and any other household electrical items not included on the accepted e-waste list
  • Any contaminated equipment or other hazardous waste e.g. smoke alarms, EPIRBs, car batteries, explosive materials or items.
  • Furniture (including mattresses and lounges).

 

Adopt a Spot (Keep Australia Beautiful Program)

Keep Australia Beautiful’s Adopt-a-Spot program empowers individuals, community groups, and businesses to maintain cleaner surroundings.

How it works:

  • Choose your favourite spot and pledge to keep it litter-free for two years.
  • Organise three to four clean-ups annually, involving friends and community.
  • Register your clean-up event with Adopt a Spot to receive a free clean up kit (includes gloves, litter bags, and tongs). Registering a clean-up notifies the City’s waste team to come collect the bags of waste on the next working day.
  • Share your success with us after each clean-up.

Note: Enjoy free insurance provided by Keep Australia Beautiful WA for all volunteers. We recommend signing up for this coverage during registration.

Ready to make a difference? To find out more, including how to register, visit Keep Australia Beautiful - Adopt a Spot.

Bin tagging and audits

Bin audits and tagging are integral to our efforts in educating residents about effective waste management practices. These initiatives involve visually inspecting bin contents to ensure correct waste sorting and provide valuable feedback to residents.

Through these activities, the City aims to increase understanding of correct waste sorting behaviours, promoting sustainability, and reducing environmental impact.

Great Recycling Challenge

Did you know? According to the Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA), bin audits can reduce contamination by up to 60% and increase recycling rates by 25%.

To improve the recycling habits of residents and reduce contamination in waste and recycling bins, the City periodically runs the Great Recycling Challenge (GRC). As part of this household waste education program, the City’s Waste team will visit a random selection of 1,800 houses across the City’s 36 suburbs.

Further information will be provided here when the next challenge is scheduled in 2026.

More information and contact

For further details on our waste education programs or to get involved, please contact our Waste Education team on 08) 9405 5000 or email waste.education@wanneroo.wa.gov.au.

You may also find the following websites useful:

Related pages