Ways To Contribute To A Cleaner Adelaide Hills

Unfortunately, littering and fly-tipping is still a problem in many Australian cities and towns which can have negative impacts on the environment, the well-being of citizens and property values. 

However, in recent years there have been plenty of improvements both in terms of changes in behaviour and better waste disposal and recycling infrastructure. 

For residents of Adelaide Hills, there are several things you can do to ensure the area is kept clean and tidy.

Use Skips Bins to Dispose of Waste Properly

If you are clearing out or remodelling your home, no doubt there will be a pile of rubbish you need to get rid of. Taking several trips to your local waste management site with your truck or trailer can be a hassle so it may be worth getting a skip bin rental for a few days. Skip bins come in sizes suitable for any job and are ideal for disposing of construction debris, clothes, electronics, kitchen appliances, green waste, old furniture, metal, soil and timber. 

Make Use of Kerbside Collections 

In Adelaide Hills, the council provides all residents with three kerbside collection bins with different colour lids; blue, green and yellow. 

Your 140-litre kerbside bin with a blue lid is your general waste bin that is collected weekly and can be used for domestic waste that can’t go in your green or yellow lidded bins. The items you can throw in this bin include clothing, fabrics, plastic bags or bin liners, foam cups and trays, and vacuum cleaner dust. Unfortunately, the waste from this bin goes to the landfill.

The kerbside bin you can use for recycling is much larger at 240 litres and has a yellow lid, it is collected every two weeks on alternate weeks to your green-lidded bin. The items you can send for recycling are: 

• Aerosol cans
• Books, magazines and newspapers
• Cardboard
• Clean aluminium foil and trays
• Drinks and food cans
• Glass bottles and jars (remove the lids)
• Hard plastics
• Margarine tubs and lids
• Plastic containers
• Sauce bottles
• Shampoo bottles

To prevent the recyclable materials from becoming contaminated and making them easier to sort it’s better not to place them inside plastic bags. 

You can dispose of organic waste in the 240-litre bin with a green lid which is collected fortnightly on alternate weeks to your yellow-lidded bin. This bin is for organic garden and kitchen waste such as food scraps, branches, dirty pizza boxes, leaves, shredded paper and weeds that are sent for composting into soil.  

Organize or Join a Clean-Up

Plastic waste can be found in almost every environment and can regularly be seen on the side of the road, in parks and polluting waterways. To tackle this problem many communities have decided to take action by organizing frequent cleanup days. All you need is a passionate group of people from your area and a bit of equipment. 

Report Abandoned Vehicles

Occasionally cars are abandoned by thieves or owners and can become an eyesore as well as a danger to children and the environment. Therefore if you see a vehicle that has been abandoned or burned out you can report it to Adelaide Hills Council Rangers on 8408 0400. 

Many cities and towns including Adelaide Hills still experience waste disposal and management issues such as illegal dumping and littering, however, there are several ways you can contribute to keeping your neighbourhood clean.