Australians take pride in their beautiful environment and understand the importance of proper waste disposal.

However, even the most well-intentioned Aussies could also make mistakes when it comes to sorting rubbish.

Gone are the days when you could chuck a rogue piece of rubbish into the wrong bin and think no one would be the wiser.

Seemingly innocent errors on bin day could become a costly mistake.

Rubbish collectors are now equipped with technology to catch sneaky acts of incorrect disposal.

In recent times, garbage trucks have been fitted with cameras.

These cameras could give collectors a clear view of what's being tossed into their vehicles.

A garbage collector showed how the new cameras worked on trucks. Image Credit: TikTok/Man of All Trades

What does this mean for homeowners during bin day?

If they notice soft plastics from your yellow bin or snuck non-compostable waste into your green bin, there's a high chance you will be spotted.

The use of this technology has prompted residents to think twice about their waste habits.

A recent video shared by a garbage collector showed how effective these cameras are.

Whenever a bin gets hoisted and its contents dumped into the hopper, the camera can capture everything.

What started as a load of cut grass soon revealed hidden plastic bags from the bottom of the bin—a no-no for the green bin.

'Here's our cameras,' the garbage man noted in the video.

'Everyone, this is how we know what's in your bins.'

Watch the collector's full video here:

Source: @conspiracytrucker/TikTok​

A spokesperson from waste management company Veolia explained that these cameras allow drivers to 'see and record any items that should not be in the bin before it goes into the main compactor'.

'If the driver spots something that shouldn't be there, they press a button to take a photo of the item, the house it came from, and then share that information with the councils,' the spokesperson stated.

'The councils can then decide on what action they would like to take.'

'What happens next depends on the level of contamination. Small items that shouldn't be in the bin are removed at material recovery facilities,' the spokesperson added.

Small items may be removed at material recovery facilities.

However, if the contamination has the potential to affect the entire load, it could all end up in landfill.

Veolia's 700-truck has seen several bizarre items in bins, including a whole engine block in mixed recycling, a bag of money, and a donkey head.

However, the most concerning item for waste workers has been household batteries.

These small yet hazardous items could cause fires in trucks or facilities.

A recent study found that Australians are unsure about which bin to use 40 per cent of the time.

Meanwhile, 77 per cent are still confused about how to dispose of coffee cups.

Most councils have the authority to issue on-the-spot fines, suspend services, or remove bins for repeat offenders.

Penrith City Council in NSW has been penalising improper waste disposal since 2011.

The council's fines for contaminating yellow and green bins now reach up to $1,674.

To avoid these hefty fines, it's crucial to know your local council's waste disposal guidelines.

Let's make an extra effort to sort our waste correctly. Not only will it save you from fines, but it will also contribute to a cleaner community.

Key Takeaways

• Garbage trucks are using cameras to identify incorrect waste disposal inside bins as they are collected.
• Incorrect disposal of waste in bins can lead to substantial fines, with some councils in Australia issuing penalties of up to $1,674.
• The waste management company Veolia uses camera technology to help drivers spot and report contamination, potentially leading to entire truckloads being sent to landfills.
• Councils are intensifying efforts to reduce bin contamination, including issuing on-the-spot fines and suspension or removal of services for repeat offenders. Batteries are especially problematic, and people are encouraged to dispose of them properly.

Have you ever been caught out on bin day? Do you have tips for ensuring everything ends up in the correct bin? Share your stories and waste disposal advice with us in the comments section below!

 

[Jan A]

What can be annoying is when contractors on your property put their rubbish into the wrong bin. I have had to get stuff out of the recycling bin when I noticed some builders had put it in there instead of the general waste bin. It doesn’t seem to matter if you tell them which bins to use. I always need to check.

 

[Jennylolo]

And people in the street who place items in your bin. It's only me in my household and I am very vigilant. On the odd occasion on the morning of pickup I have taken something out to the bins and found items I never put in.

 

[Cleary boy]

Knowledge

 

[<Stephen>]

you put your bin out and the waste is correct,,, but what is stopping someone else coming along and dumping incorrect waste in your bin,,, im pretty sure if council find me for incorrect waste im pretty sure they would have a good fight on there hands,,, because the bin is on the street waiting for collection so not my problem any more;;;;;

 

[Bill MacL]

Anything to make the user pay.

 

[Parrot]

I cannot understand why people would put Batteries in the Bin .. Supermarkets now have
The facilities where one can dispose of their unwanted batteries all you have to do is put the batteries for disposal in your shopping bag .

 

[Free.lander]

they day they pay me to sort out the plastics is the day I will do my best to sort it out for them and save them the cost of employing people to do it. AS that day will never arrive, then plastics is plastics, paper is paper and anything I consider recyclable , goes in the recycle bin
If the council doesn't like it , then reduce my rates by the recycle collection bin cost and the lot goes in the red lid bin
I am not buying into penalties for not doing what the recycle rs are getting good money to do and if it was not profitable for them , then they would not be doling it
Yes some ignorant s do the wrong thing and the fines can be applied to them but when it comes to differences in recyclable plastic stick your fines where the sun don't shine--I am not an industrial chemist

 

[Towing]

Many years ago councils had different lists. I personally saw the lists from 2 councils.
Hopefully they are all the same now.

 

[Kyria]

I recently had soil and rubbish dumped in my green bin & red bin. Rang council who said it was a police matter as they came into my property. Police were contacted. Elderly and could not remove it.

 

[HelenB55]

We currently have 4 bins, how many more are to come?
Many years ago we only had silver round bins that the Garbo’s collected.
Now we have to sort all the different items into different bins.
If someone in your street puts the wrong stuff into your bin, the council fines you
This is not right!
The council should pay contractors to sort it out.
A lot of the waste is dumped into the wrong places anyway.
I remember seeing videos of Recycling being dumped into general waste. It was on 60 Minutes a few years ago, it is probably still being done

 

[Veggiepatch]

In recent times, garbage trucks have been fitted with cameras.

This has been the case since the late 1990s with Cleanaway subcontracted trucks for the Shoalhaven City Council.

 

[Colette 3799]

I do my best to use the bins correctly but I know I get it wrong sometimes. I am a an avid recycler and will fish things out of the red bin if someone has put recycling in there but we all make mistakes. I take Batteries to the supermarket, I have a bag I put them in when they die till I take them. We don’t have the food bin yet but when it comes I will definitely use it. I hope the councils will have the sense to know that yes, sometimes mistakes are made and only fine the people who don’t care and just chuck anything anywhere and not us regular humans that make mistakes occasionally

 

[Veggiepatch]

I recently had soil and rubbish dumped in my green bin & red bin. Rang council who said it was a police matter as they came into my property. Police were contacted. Elderly and could not remove it.View attachment 72503

Council shirking the task yet again!

And what in the hell can the police do? A mass spectrometer analysis of the rubbish to determine its origin? I suppose the police would relish in this solving this type of "crime" as it doesn't pose a physical threat on their part!

 

[Jan A]

I recently had soil and rubbish dumped in my green bin & red bin. Rang council who said it was a police matter as they came into my property. Police were contacted. Elderly and could not remove it.View attachment 72503

Getting anything out of the bottom of the bin is a pain for us shorter people. I have to turn the bin upside down and let gravity do the work for me because I cannot reach anything lying on the bottom. Then I have to lift it upright again, not so easy when it is heavy and on wheels!

 

[Mikeyboy2012]

I have an ongoing "discussion" with an elderly housemate who keeps putting the wrong things onto the respective bins.

She tries yo do the right thing. She often asks me if it's rubbish or recycle.

But only yesterday she put soft wrappers into the recycle bin, after me telling her on multiple occasions not to.

This also happened at at previous residence, when another elderly neighbour, with whom we shared the bins, did likewise.

The first lady actually rang the Council and was told, " If in doubt put it into the rubbish (red lid, landfill) bin.

Good advice!

I always check the bins when putting them out and move items to the correct bin rather than have another "chat." Much easier.

My frustration continues

 

[Reet]

Our council sent a man round to inspect the bins before the trucks came round to empty them. I and some of my neighbours had a sticker placed on our bin that made the truck not empty them. We enquired as to why and were told that things were placed in the wrong bit but neither I nor the neighbours had placed these items in our bins. How can we ensure that passersby do not put the wrong things in our bins after they have been placed outside for collection?

 

[Clancieblue]

And people in the street who place items in your bin. It's only me in my household and I am very vigilant. On the odd occasion on the morning of pickup I have taken something out to the bins and found items I never put in.

Me too. My neighbor over the road seems to think my bin is a free for all once on the street. How on earth can we be responsible.

 

[Wayneo]

People just couldn’t give a rats ass and just put anything in the closest bin.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Our council sent a man round to inspect the bins before the trucks came round to empty them. I and some of my neighbours had a sticker placed on our bin that made the truck not empty them. We enquired as to why and were told that things were placed in the wrong bit but neither I nor the neighbours had placed these items in our bins. How can we ensure that passersby do not put the wrong things in our bins after they have been placed outside for collection?

Put the "offending" bin in your car, travel to the Council Chambers and leave your own calling card. A bin full of garbage.

Make sure you don't have any incriminating evidence such as addressed envelopes.