Leaving your wheelie bin on the curb could cost you more than $2500

Leaving your wheelie bin on the curb to cost you more than $2500 if you live in Mackay, Townsville, Rockhampton, Burdekin, Bundaberg, Gladstone or the Gold Coast in a proposed new law, called Local Law Number 9.  The law would see local residents hit with a $2523 fine for leaving their bins outside on the kerb for more than 24 hours before or after rubbish collection day.  

The Mackay Regional Council pledges that they are in no hurry to enforce the fine, but are creating it among other legislation for waste management that is being forced due to expiring Queensland State legislation.

It would significantly impact holiday-makers who leave their bins out and go away, or those who simply don’t bring the bins in.  

Prior legislation also had a fine for leaving your bins out of $2523 but did not have the 24 hour window set in it, instead stating its validity to”otherwise reasonably appropriate before and after collection”.  The new rules will come into place on 1 July 2018.  

But it does leave open the possibility holiday-makers who deposit their bin before they go away, and those tardy at retrieving it, could get the bill. The rules will be in place by July 1.

The new law will impact 20 council areas in Queensland.  The Gold Coast will be the first to adopt the law after the Queensland Government decided to drop current legislation around waste management.  

The Local Government Association spokesperson said they believed 24 hours was long enough for people to bring their bins in after they had been emptied.

Brisbane City Council, fines $1260 for the offense, which is structured without a time limit. 

How do you feel about the fine?  Does it place you at risk or do you see it as a good way to clean up your neighbourhood?