Managing Our Waste - 2025
December Recycling & Waste Update
Island Waste & Recycling News
Christmas: Join the Cycle!
There are so many simple ways to make a difference this festive season. Start by:
- Refusing – Say “no thanks” to unnecessary packaging, bags, and extras.
- Reducing – Think before you buy: Do I really need it?
- Repurposing & Repairing – Give items a second life with a quick fix or creative reuse.
- Reusing & Recycling – Drop tricky items at our Recycling Hubs, household waste at the transfer stations, or bring recyclables and sorted materials to the Whitemark Waste Facility.
CASH4CANS – EVERY MONDAY AT WHITEMARK WASTE FACILITY (9 AM – 12 PM)
Supported by Flinders Council and the FIDHS Association.
Together, we’ve raised $2,540.30 and worked through 25,400+ containers — a fantastic community effort! As we head into the festive season, please keep using the aluminium and glass disposal points.
And don’t forget — the machine also accepts plastic drink containers: soft drink bottles (375 ml–1.5 L), fruit poppers, and Nippy’s milk.
Your care keeps materials out of landfill and helps support local charities during the busy summer season.
How to help the Recycle Rewards machine do its job
- Uncrushed & Empty – Keep containers whole.
- Barcode Intact – Labels help the machine recognise each item.
- Lids On – Lids are recyclable too.
At the vending machine, you’ll find barcodes for The Furneaux Collective to support our wildlife carers, and for the School. Simply scan, feed your containers, and transfer funds to support these local charities.
Zero Waste Ways This Christmas
Christmas does not have to mean extra waste. A few simple habits can save you money, free up space, and help keep the island looking beautiful.
• Reuse what you can. Glad bags, jars, ribbons, and gift bags work perfectly well the second or third time around.
• Pass things on. Children are often just as excited about “new to them” books, toys, and clothes as they are about brand-new ones.
• Think local. Shopping in your own community, finding second hand treasures, and supporting local makers or swaps all reduce packaging and transport waste.
• Share food wisely. Picnic leftovers, neighbourly swaps, or scraps for chooks or compost help keep good food out of the bin.
Small choices really add up, and they help keep Christmas simple, affordable, and gentle on our island.
If you do end up with waste, please dispose of it with care:
• Separate your load before heading to the Whitemark Waste Facility.
• Sort items correctly. Cardboard, household waste, hard plastics, metals, electronic waste, and green waste all go to different places, and good sorting keeps useful materials out of landfill.
• Rinse recyclables so they stay clean and ready to process.
• Drop off usable items instead of throwing them away. Someone else may need them.
• Use the transfer stations for everyday household waste so that recyclable and recoverable materials stay out of the general waste stream.
November Recycling & Waste Update
Reporting on October Activities
Island Waste & Recycling News – October Update
Bulk Bag Recovery
Good news – the Bulk Bag Baler is now up and running! This new equipment allows Council to process and compact bulk bags (often used in agriculture for feed, fertiliser, and seed) so they can be recycled rather than sent to landfill.
We’re encouraging all local agricultural businesses, contractors, and residents to take part in the program by dropping off their clean, empty bulk bags at the Waste Facility. By baling and recycling these bags, we’re reducing waste and keeping plastics out of the environment.
Next time you’re heading to the Waste Facility, bring your bulk bags along – together, we can make a big difference in reducing landfill and protecting our environment.
10–16 November: National Recycling Week
Join the cycle! There are so many ways to make a difference — start by:
Refusing: say “no thanks” to unnecessary bags.
Reducing: think before you buy — do I really need it?
Repurposing & Repairing: give items a second life.
Reusing & Recycling: drop tricky items at our Recycling Hubs or the Whitemark Tip.
Highlights
• Cash4Cans ran most Mondays at WWF (9 am – 12 pm) with Recycle Rewards and the FIDHS Association.
• Motor Oil Recycling: 2,000L of used motor oil was safely shipped to Veolia for proper disposal. Bass Strait Freight delivers to Bridport, where Veolia pumps out the oil before the stillage is returned for reuse. Please mention you have motor oil when you stop at the tip office — our staff are happy to help!
A Zero-Waste Success – Don’t Trash It, Scrap It!
A big thank-you to the Flinders Island Show Society and the wider community for your amazing effort at the 90th Annual Show. Your commitment to separating waste made this event a true zero-waste success — it was inspiring to see food and organics separated for compost!
Why Recycling Hubs Matter
Recycling Hubs make it easy to drop off items like batteries, coffee pods, and printer cartridges close to home. They keep harmful materials out of landfill, support local recycling, and prepare materials for future projects like the upcoming Recycling Shed, focused on sorting and recovery.
Recycling Achievements
Recent shipments of hard-to-recycle items included:
• 2kg of used glad wrap and freezer bags
• 5.7kg of empty dishwashing bottles
• 16kg of printer cartridges
• 7.1kg of shampoo and conditioner containers
A fantastic community effort — thank you!
Looking Ahead – Get Involved!
Let’s work together to keep our island beautiful for future generations. We’re calling on community groups and residents to help boost recycling of household batteries, cooking oil, scrap metal, aluminium cans, cardboard, and glass.
Buy It Back!
Support the circular economy by choosing products made from recycled materials. (Planet Ark has great resources to explore.)
Recycle Rewards Update
Aluminium can collections have gone gangbusters! Don’t forget — glass stubbies, plastic soft drink bottles of all sizes, and even fruit juice or Nippy cartons with barcodes are all eligible for a 10c refund. It’s great to see everyone getting involved and getting something back!
Recycle Reward Tips – Three Easy Steps:
- Uncrushed & Empty – Keep drink containers whole.
- Barcode Intact – Labels help the machine recognise your container.
- Lids On – Lids are recyclable too!
Every small action helps keep our island a clean, healthy home for our kids — and the future.
October Recycling & Waste Update
Reporting on September Activities
Highlights
- Cash4Cans ran every Monday at Whitemark Waste Facility (9 am – 12 pm) with Recycle Rewards and the FIDHS Association.
- Magnetic signage was installed at Lady Barron Waste Transfer Station to help visitors.
- Around 66 tonnes of mulch and clean fill were moved from Lady Barron to Whitemark for use at the tip.
- Recycling hubs across the island were serviced throughout the month, Whitemark hub is the top performer in the hub space.
Why do we have recycling hubs?
Recycling hubs make it easy for everyone on the island to drop off items like batteries, coffee pods, printer cartridges, and plastics close to home. They help keep harmful materials out of landfill, support local recycling programs, and give the community a chance to learn and get involved in sustainable practices. Hubs also play an important role in preparing materials for larger projects, like the upcoming Recycling Shed, where sorting and recovery will be the focus.
Recycling Achievements
- 191 drums were inspected during the drumMuster collection day – Go Flinders!
- 21.89 kg of hub products were collected in September, bringing the total diversion to 666.99 kg.
- 10.5 kg of Nespresso coffee pods were sent back for recycling.
Looking Ahead – Get Involved!
We’re encouraging local groups and community members to help boost recycling. Can you support efforts for household batteries, cooking oil, scrap metal, aluminium cans, cardboard, and the Reverse Vending Machine (RVM)?
Tips to Use the RVM – Three Easy Steps:
- Uncrushed & Empty – Keep drink containers whole.
- Barcode Intact – Labels help the machine recognise your container.
- Lids On – Lids are recyclable too!
Thanks for doing your bit!
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September Recycling & Waste Update
Reporting on August Activities
Facilities & Operations
Our team has been hard at work this month, keeping things running smoothly right across the island. From transporting recyclables and general waste from Killiecrankie and Lady Barron to the Whitemark Waste Facility, to carrying out regular inspections, equipment checks, and maintenance. Everything is on track to keep our facilities safe, tidy, and reliable for everyone.
Scrap Metal Recovery – “One Stop”
August marked a big milestone for the island with the completion of the Scrap Metal Recovery Program! The legacy hard waste pile has now been fully processed. Around 350 cars were crushed at the Whitemark Waste Facility, with another 60 removed from D.D & G.I Bailey. In total, around 174.5 tonnes of steel have been baled and sent off for recycling. This steel will now be turned into new Onesteel products, giving it a second life and keeping all that material out of landfill.
Recycling Hubs News
Our Recycling Hubs are turning two years old this September! A big thank you to everyone who has used the hubs and supported this initiative. Together we’ve kept valuable materials out of landfill and given them a second life.
August saw 177.51 kg of materials diverted from landfill, bringing the total collected through the hubs to 653.18 kg since the program began, a fantastic result!
Our top five collections by weight so far are:
- Batteries – 309.95 kg
- Coffee Pods – 116.93 kg
- Printer Cartridges – 79.14 kg
- Hair Care – 28.26 kg
- Light Bulbs & Tubes – 23.53 kg
This month’s shipments also included out-of-date marine flares. Don’t forget we can take both Hand Flares and Parachute Flares.
The E-waste stillage has also been returned and is ready for collection through the National Television and Computer Recycling Program. This is the perfect way to responsibly recycle computers, TVs, remotes, cords, keyboards, and mice. You can also pass items on to friends and family or drop your old mobile phones, cords, and cases into the MobileMuster collection point at Walkers IGA.
Program Update: Colgate
The Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program has now closed, and our hubs have been updated to reflect this. Please don’t leave toothbrushes, toothpaste, or mouthwash products at the hubs; thanks for helping us keep things running smoothly!
drumMUSTER – We Need You
Our drumMUSTER collection is held on the first Wednesday of every month but in August, we only saw three drums come through. If you’re part of our farming, vet, or ag community, we’d love for you to bring in your empty chemical drums for inspection. Together, we can make a big difference and keep these out of landfill.
Bulk Bag Recovery
Good news, the Bulk Bag Baler is now up and running! This means bulk bags can now be processed properly for recycling. Next time you’re heading to the Waste Facility, bring them along and help us keep these bags out of landfill.
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August Recycling & Waste Update
Reporting on July Activities
July was a busy month for our waste and recycling team, who kept things moving smoothly across the island while helping us all take steps toward a cleaner and greener Flinders.
Facilities & Operations
From Killiecrankie and Lady Barron, more than 50 tonnes of general waste and loads of recyclables were transported to the Whitemark Waste Facility for processing. On top of that, the team managed the reporting and levy requirements, with July’s contribution sitting at $5,447.63. It’s detailed work, but it keeps us on track and compliant.
Recycling in Action
It’s always exciting to see hard-to-recycle items given a second life. Shipments in July kept batteries, coffee pods, printer cartridges, and even blister packs out of landfill. Every kilo diverted is a win for our island, and every effort brings us closer to lowering that landfill levy.
Recycling Hubs Snapshot
In July alone, 10.74 kg was collected through the hubs, bringing the total since launch to 440.53 kg. The top five programs are leading the way:
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Batteries – 135.039 kg
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Coffee Pods – 110.729 kg
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Printer Cartridges – 74.763 kg
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Hair Care – 26.455 kg
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Light Bulbs & Tubes – 22.916 kg
Other collections included Colgate Oral Care, Dish & Air Care, L’OR + Coffee capsules, and blister packs. And a special shout-out goes to community members who donated a huge stash of aluminium ring pulls, now off to Sims Metal to be turned into cash for a good cause.
Glad Food Recycling – A Gentle Reminder
We’ve noticed some plastics sneaking into the Glad Food Recycling bins that don’t belong there, like pasta and nut packets or other soft plastics. These slow down the process and reduce what can be recovered. By sticking to the accepted items, you’re helping the program run at its best — thank you for doing your bit.
Roll Up, Roll Up – drumMUSTER Needs You!
It’s been a quiet couple of months, with no chemical drums inspected in June or July. If you’re part of our farming, vet, or ag community, now’s the time to round up those drums and bring them in. The first Wednesday of every month is collection day — let’s keep them out of landfill and put them back into the recycling loop.
Recycling Shed on the Way
A big step forward this month was lodging the Development Application for the new Recycling Shed at Whitemark Waste Facility. Once built, this undercover space will make recycling more organised, efficient, and weather-proof for everyone. When you’re next at the tip, keep an eye on the signs and chat with staff if you’re unsure where something belongs.
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July Recycling & Waste Update
Reporting on June Activities
Facilities and Operations:
The team managed operations, including, including transporting recyclables and general waste from both Killiecrankie and Lady Barron to the Whitemark Waste Facility.
Key improvements and activities included:
- Recycling Hub Launch: The Recycling Hub has officially opened at the Whitemark Waste Facility!
Keep an eye out for opportunities to participate!
A promotional campaign is currently in development to raise public awareness and encourage community engagement with the new Recycling Hub. The aim is to make the Hub uniquely Flinders Island, stay tuned for updates and ways you can get involved.
Recycling & Resource Recovery:
The Flinders Island Community Recycling Hubs diverted 10.74 kg of materials in June, totalling 440.53 kg since launch.
Top-performing recycling programs are:
- Batteries: 135.039kg
- Coffee Pods: 107.553 kg
- Printer Cartridges: 72.782 kg
- Hair Care: 24.77 kg
- Light Bulbs & Tubes: 21.999kg
Please note: We are no longer accepting the following for recycling:
- Skin care products
- Plastic lids
- Make-up and perfume containers
Upcoming Projects:
A Scrap Metal Recovery program is scheduled for the Whitemark Waste Facility. This initiative will reduce stockpiles and maximise recycling outcomes.
The Bulk Bag Project is making strong progress at the Whitemark Waste Facility, with the goal for improving environmental and recycling outcomes across the island.
The team has completed a reorganisation of the cardboard compactor shed to install the stored Bulk Bag Baler. This step enables us to participate in the national fertiliser bulk bag stewardship and recycling scheme, Big Bag Recovery.
We will begin processing the existing stockpile of ‘bulka bags’ shortly. Be sure to bring your eligible bags in!
Thank-you for your ongoing commitment to recycling & sustainability on Flinders.
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June Recycling & Waste Update
Reporting on May Activities
Facilities and Operations:
The team managed operations, including, including transporting recyclables and general waste from both Killiecrankie and Lady Barron to the Whitemark Waste Facility.
Key improvements and activities included:
- Completion of sorting e-waste from Whitegoods for Scrap Metal recycling program.
- Shipment of recyclables including 800L of cooking oil, 2 x pallets of lead acid batteries and a pallet of Aluminium wire.
- E-waste (televisions & computers) packed into stillage ready for recycling.
- Closure of small inactive waste cell.
Recycling & Resource Recovery:
The Flinders Island Community Recycling Hubs diverted 16.27 kg of materials in April, totalling 440.53 kg since launch. Top-performing recycling programs are:
- Batteries: 132.98 kg
- Coffee Pods: 103.31 kg
- Printer Cartridges: 71.605 kg
- Light Bulbs & Tubes: 21.999kg
- Hair Care: 23.79 kg
- Please note: We are no longer recycling skin care products, plastic lids, or make-up and perfume items
Thank-you for your ongoing commitment to recycling efforts
Upcoming Project: Scrap Metal Recovery at Whitemark Waste Facility
The Scrap Metal Recovery Project is well underway at the Whitemark Waste Facility, with exciting progress being made to improve recycling outcomes on Flinders Island.
The team has completed a major sort and clean-up of the site:
- E-waste has been segregated and is being shipped off-island.
- Used motor oil and cooking fat are also included in the current shipment.
- Whitegoods have been degassed and relocated to the metal stockpile.
Going forward, patrons will be asked to separately place e-waste, gas cylinders, fridges, and other whitegoodswhen dropping items off at facility. This will help maintain the success of our growing recycling efforts.
A metal recycling contractor has been engaged and is scheduled to mobilise in August, bringing a metal baler and excavator with an electromagnet to process vehicles and co-mingled legacy waste.
If you’re visiting the tip, please follow the signage and speak with staff if you’re unsure about where to place items.
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May News
Our waste and recycling team had a full schedule this month. Materials from Killiecrankie and Lady Barron were transported to Whitemark Waste Facility, including glass, aluminium, and recyclables. A large volume of hard waste was managed following the Easter period, and green waste was chipped at both Lady Barron and Whitemark. Cardboard continues to be baled for off-island recycling.
Landfill Levy Reporting
In April, our landfill levy reporting included 100.02 tonnes of leviable waste, with $4,488.90 payable to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. Categories included general waste, hard waste, cardboard, commercial and industrial waste, and construction materials.
Recycling Achievements
Since launching our new recycling program, 424kg of material has been diverted from landfill. This includes:
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125kg of batteries
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101kg of coffee pods
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70kg of printer cartridges
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22kg of hair care products
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22kg of light bulbs and tubes
However, 6kg of ineligible items were also collected, prompting a renewed education push to reduce “wish-cycling.”
We’re also preparing for the arrival of new battery collection units, which will be installed at Walkers IGA and Whitemark Waste Faciltiy. The upcoming launch of our Recycling Hub at Whitemark Waste Facility will mark another exciting step forward.
March 2025 Recycling & Waste Update
Facilities and Operations:
Our team’s been hard at work managing a busy end to summer across our waste and recycling facilities.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s been happening:
Waste Facility & Operations
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We transported waste and recycling from Killiecrankie and Lady Barron to Whitemark.
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At the Whitemark Waste Facility, we:
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Cleared the aluminium can overflow – recyclables were baled
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Baled cardboard for recycling.
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The Household Hazardous Waste Collection event safely removed:
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233kg of flammable liquids
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1094kg of toxic herbicides & pesticides
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1kg of corrosive substances
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A new Recycling Hub will open at the Whitemark Waste Facility and is set to open in May.
Community Recycling Hubs
Our Hubs have diverted 48.6kg of materials in March — that's over 400kg since the program began!
Top recyclables so far:
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🔋 Batteries: 121.09kg
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☕ Coffee Pods: 95.49kg
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🖨️ Printer Cartridges: 68.39kg
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🧴 Skincare: 24.63kg
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💡 Light Bulbs & Tubes: 21.4kg
Off-Island Recycling
We sent a bunch of materials away for recycling and disposal:
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0.77 tonnes of aluminium cans – raising $1,115 for FIDHS's Cash for Cans program
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1000L of cooking oil
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9.71kg through Mobile Muster
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16kg of printer cartridges
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1 box of household lights
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(Note: The skincare program is paused until further notice)
Coming Soon: Safer Battery Collection
Thanks to support from NRM North, we’re upgrading our battery recycling systems:
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A new retail drop-off bin will be installed at Whitemark IGA
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A 600L fireproof container will be added at the Waste Facility to safely store and transport hazardous batteries
These upgrades will help us keep the community safe while improving our recycling capabilities.
Recycle Rewards Are On the Way!
The Whitemark Waste Facility has been chosen as the official site for the Container Refund Point on Flinders Island.
💰 Eligible drink containers will soon earn you 10 cents back under Tasmania’s statewide scheme! More info coming soon.
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February 2025 Recycling & Waste Update
Facilities and Operations:
The team managed busy summer operations, including transporting recyclables and waste from Killiecrankie and Lady Barron to Whitemark. Improvements at the Whitemark Waste Facility included:
- Cleaning and sorting at the Giving Shed.
- Relocating machinery tyres for easier access.
- Establishing dedicated bins for oil filters and oily rags.
- Removing inappropriate items from the green waste pile. Reminder: Green waste should be free of metal, plastic, timber, or large amounts of soil.
Recycling & Resource Recovery:
The Flinders Island Community Recycling Hubs diverted 21.6 kg of materials in January, totalling 352.3 kg since launch. Top-performing recycling programs are:
- Batteries: 101.3 kg
- Coffee Pods: 86.9 kg
- Printer Cartridges: 54.3 kg
- Skincare: 21.5 kg
- Light Bulbs & Tubes: 21.4 kg
Materials sent off-island for recycling or disposal included:
- 1.1 tonnes of lead-acid batteries.
- 2,800 litres of motor oil.
- 6 yellow fire extinguishers (containing ozone-depleting chemicals).
Upcoming Events:
- School Recycling Hub: A new hub is being planned to help students recycle and learn about waste reduction.
- Cash-4-Cans Sorting Event: Monday 24th February, 9 am–12 pm at Whitemark. Wear a hat, sturdy shoes, and long sleeves.
- Household Hazardous Waste Collection: Sunday 30th & Monday 31st March, 1 pm–4 pm at Whitemark. Partnering with Circular North to collect items like pesticides, cleaning solvents, and pool chemicals. More details will be shared later in February.
January 2025 Recycling & Waste Update
Transfer Station Update
Thank you for your patience and support while we worked through a temporary disruption at our Waste Transfer Stations. We’re happy to let you know that operations are now back to normal.
As we move forward, let’s all consider ways to minimise waste and reduce what ends up in landfill. Why not:
- Host a garage sale or use local buy/swap/sell groups to give unwanted items a new life?
- Choose reusable options like refillable bottles, bulk foods, and produce bags instead of single-use plastics.
- Explore creative ways to repurpose or upcycle items in your home.
Every small change helps us build a more sustainable future for our island. Thanks for doing your part!
GIVING SHED REMINDER
The Giving Shed is maintained by dedicated community volunteers. Please be mindful when donating to keep things manageable.
Friendly reminders:
- Not suitable for donation: Socks, underwear, and bras.
- Please avoid: Items that are stained, soiled, unwashed, or at the end of their life.
If items can’t be reused, kindly dispose of them responsibly. Thank you for your understanding!