General News
25 August, 2025
Your helping hand goes a long way
Gilgandra Shire Council (GSC) is reminding residents to be extra mindful of using their waste and recycling bins correctly as the warmer months approach.
GSC says that although most residents generally understand what goes in which bin, the Gilgandra Waste Facility has been experiencing a lot of contamination recently which makes it dangerous and “disgusting” for the workforce, including supported employees from Carlginda Enterprises, disability employment program.
Gilgandra waste operations manager, Michael Hodge, said some people in the community may not be aware that recycling at the facility is hand sorted.
“At Gilgandra Waste Facility, your recycling is still sorted by Carlginda workers – by hand.
“That means real people are picking through what people put in their bins to separate what’s recyclable from what’s not.
“One of the biggest issues we face is food contamination. When food scraps or liquids are left in containers or thrown in the recycling bin, they soak into paper and cardboard, ruining whole batches of otherwise good recycling. “It’s not just wasteful, it’s also disgusting for the staff who have to handle it – sometimes meaning the whole load has to go to landfill. A little more care on your end shows a lot of respect on theirs.”
“Needles and household batteries are other major problems. When batteries are tossed in the wrong bin, they can spark fires in trucks or at the facility, putting workers and equipment at serious risk,” he said.
“We’re fortunate to have a dedicated battery drop-off point here at the waste facility for free and encourage everyone to use the service.”
GSC’s manager of planning and development, Kristy Cosier, said recycling right is key to helping real people who hand-sort our recycling.
“A little effort by everyone to sort waste correctly and put out the right bin on the right day for collection makes a huge difference. Our landfill is filling up fast and we need everyone to do their bit to reduce the amount of rubbish they produce and recycle properly.
“Next time you visit the waste facility or put your bins out for collection, spare a thought for the staff doing the tough job of sorting through what we throw away,” she said.
