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Three Strikes

We're committed to helping our community recycle right. The Three Strikes process is designed to educate and support residents, reduce contamination in recycling bins and glass crates, protect the integrity of the recycling system, and keep valuable recyclable materials out of landfill.

What is the Three Strikes process?

The Three Strikes process helps make sure recycling is collected safely and can be successfully recycled. If recycling bins or glass crates contain the wrong items, or materials that are unsafe or too contaminated to recycle, Council may suspend the recycling service for that property for a temporary period. This helps reduce contamination and avoid materials that could’ve been recycled going to landfill.

Why Does Council have a Three Strikes process?

The aim is to:

  • Improve the quality of recycling.
  • Reduce contamination in the recycling stream.
  • Reduce unnecessary costs to ratepayers.
  • Ensure recyclable materials can be processed and recycled instead of ending up in landfill.

How does the tagging system work?

Council uses a three-colour tagging system when auditing recycling bins and glass crates.

Green Tag: Your recycling is compliant.

A green tag means:

  • Your recycling contains the correct materials.
  • There are no issues with your recycling.
  • Your bin or crate will be collected.

“Everything in your bin was recyclable – Well done!”

Orange Tag (warning):

Minor non-compliance

A bin or crate may receive an orange tag if:

  • Contamination is minor (i.e lids).
  • Some incorrect items are present
  • The recycling is safe to collect.

“Your recycling will still be collected, and information will be provided to help you recycle correctly.”

Red Tag (warning):

Significant non-compliance

A red tag may be issued when:

  • The recycling is heavily contaminated.
  • Prohibited items are present.
  • The contents create a health and safety risk.
  • The bin or crate does not meet collection requirements.

The bin or crate will not be collected; you will need to remedy it for the next collection or dispose of it at McLeans Pit Landfill & Recycling Centre.

An orange tag or red tag may count as a strike where Council determines there has been deliberate non-compliance with the recycling requirements. Three orange and/or red tags within a 12-month period may result in the suspension of the non-complying recycling service.

You will receive information explaining what the issue is and how to correct it. Council’s preferred approach is education and helping residents recycle correctly.

You will receive further written notification advising that continued non-compliance may lead to a suspension of your recycling service.

If three orange and/or red tags are issued within a 12-month period for deliberate non-compliance, Council may suspend the affected recycling service for six weeks.

The suspension applies only to the non-complying recycling services, such as

  • The yellow recycling bin.
  • The blue glass crate
  • Both recycling services if both are affected

How long will my recycling service be suspended?
The suspension period is six weeks. This means the effected recycling service will be collected for three scheduled collections from the date Council notifies you of the suspension.

Will my refuse bin still be emptied?
Yes. A suspension applies only to the non-complying recycling service. Your red bin can still be collected as long as it complies with collection requirements.

Do I still have to pay for the service while it is suspended?
Yes. The refuse and recycling targeted rate remains payable while the recycling service is suspended.

Check whether a red tag has been attached to your recycling bin or glass crate.

You will need to:

  1. Remove the non-compliant items.
  2. Make sure the remaining materials meet Council recycling requirements.
  3. Put the bin or crate out on the next scheduled collection day.

Alternatively, you can take the material to McLean’s Pit Recycling Centre, Preston Road, Recycling Centre, or Blackball, Nelson Creek or Moana Resource Centre.

Common reasons for orange or red tags include:

  • Food or liquid left in containers.
  • Soft plastics in recycling bins.
  • Incorrect plastics.
  • Glass placed in the yellow recycling bin.
  • Non-recyclable household waste mixed with recyclables.
  • Soiled cardboard or paper.

  • Paper
  • Cardboard
  • Aluminum and tin cans
  • Plastics numbers 1, 2 and 5

All items must be clean and dry. No lids, they should be placed in your red refuse bin.

Check out the flyer below!

  • Glass bottles
  • Glass jars.

All glass must be clean and lids removed, and not broken. No lids, they should be placed in your red refuse bin.

Rethink Waste and Recycling Flyer

If you believe a tag or suspension has been issued incorrectly, contact Council to discuss the circumstances. Council may review the situation and determine whether further action is appropriate. The bylaw also allows Council to reinstate a suspended service when it is satisfied that the collection requirements will be complied with.

If the tenancy changes or a property is sold while a recycling service is services, the property owner or landfill may request that the suspension be lifted. Council will require evidence of the change in ownership or occupancy before reinstating the service.

Visit the Council website or collection guide for the latest recycling information, accepted materials and collection days. Collection requirements are set out in the Waste Management Services Policy and Waste Management and Minimisation Bylaw 2026.

Criteria for non-compliance

The table below is for the auditor, to help them identify when a wheelie bin or crate should be orange or red tagged. This table is in the official warning letter issued when a bin is found to be non compliant and is red tagged.

The Rethink Waste and Recycling flyer provides guidance on correct recycling. It is issued when a bin or crate is non-compliant and is given an orange or red tag.

Wheelie BinCrate
The wheelie bin is overfull, and the lid was not fully closed. The crate is overfull and unsafe to pick up.
The wheelie bin is overweight (it exceeded 80kgs). The crate missed collection because it was not put out by 7:00am on collection day.
The wheelie bin missed collection because it was not put out by 7:00am on collection day. The contents in the crate aren’t clean.
The contents in the recycling bin aren’t clean. The crate contains unacceptable or prohibited items.
The wheelie bin contains unacceptable or prohibited items. The crate was put out on the wrong week. (i.e., crate on a refuse week)
The wrong bin was put out today. (i.e., refuse on a recycling week or recycling on a refuse week).

We care about environmental sustainability and reducing our waste. The kerbside recycling audits and traffic light tag system will help us to achieve a cleaner and more efficient recycling process. This benefits both our community and the environment. It's important that everyone recycles correctly so that our recycling program works well.

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