General News
31 March, 2026
Shire survey on recycling
COMMUNITY feedback will be a key decider on whether residents are provided with recycling and green waste bins in Mareeba Shire Council’s future kerbside waste collection service.
In a survey which opened last Monday and runs for another two weeks over the Easter break, the community is faced with a choice of three amounts they would be prepared to pay annually for the services.
The move follows councils’ approval last month of a seven-year waste collection contract renewal to JJ Richards & Sons Pty Ltd, due to begin in December.
In its tender, the company had included an optional cost assessment for the addition of a recycling and/or Garden Organic (GO) kerbside service.
Documents revealed recycling could cost each household at least $144 per year and the GO service would cost at least $88.50 a year.
One-off costs for bin delivery and education were not included.
The new service costs would be in addition to a predicted general rise in waste collection due to costs such as truck replacement and equipment as well as fuel, which had ballooned since Covid, and the current Middle Easten conflict.
The new survey provides three price choices for each service for respondents to select - they can click on a “no money” option, a $180 annual amount, or a $240 annual amount for recycling bins. This equates to $3.46 a week or $4.61 respectively.
For a GO service, respondents could opt for zero dollars, $110 annually ($2 a week) or $200 annually ($3.80).
Mayor Angela Toppin encouraged the community to take five minutes to complete the survey on the council website.
As well as the cost choices, two optional feedback sections are provided to gauge public sentiment on the environment.
They ask respondents to rate their commitment to minimising illegal dumping and litter, taking responsibility for the impacts of waste and protecting future generations and to provide feedback on knowledge and use of services available at the council waste transfer stations.
It also asks their use or knowledge of other outlets providing recycling choices, such as charity shops, ink cartridge recycling services or even online marketplace shopping.
“The voices of our community are vital in guiding this long-term decision,” Mayor Toppin said.
“The last (council) survey on kerbside collection recycling was years ago, so it is the right time for residents to once again share their thoughts and consider what they would want to pay for these new services.”
That survey, seven years ago, indicated a resounding no to recycling.
The current proposal would see kerbside recycled waste taken to the Cairns Materials Recovery Facility, and the GO taken to Shark Recycling in Biboohra.
The services would only be available to areas already receiving kerbside waste collection – Mareeba, Kuranda, Julatten, Speewah, Dimbulah, Biboohra, Koah and Mt Molloy. All households would be included – there would be no opt in or out provisions.
“Council’s final decision on the introduction of new kerbside collection services will be based on a balanced assessment of the survey feedback, financial and operational feasibility, and long-term community interests,” Mayor Toppin said.
The waste survey can be found on council’s website. Council has also set up a dedicated hotline on 4086 4910.
