All systems GO as Ipswich gears up for garden organics bin rollout
23 April 2025
More than 55,000 households will receive a new green lid bin for garden organics in the coming months as Ipswich transitions to a city-wide three bin household waste collection service.
The new bin collections will start in July with the green lid bin for garden organics - items such as grass clippings, leaves, twigs and small branches – to be alongside existing red (general waste) and yellow (recycling) lid bins.
More than 32,000 households already have green lid bins through council’s opt-in garden organics service, with the rollout of bins to the remaining 55,000 households that do not currently have one to start from 2 June.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the rollout would be the most significant change to the city’s household bin collection service in recent memory and bring significant environmental and economic benefits.
“Moving to a three-bin household waste collection service will be a major step forward for Ipswich,” Mayor Harding said.
“Too much of our city’s waste is ending up in landfill when it could be recycled or repurposed - not only is this bad news for our environment it also means higher processing costs.
“Since 2019, the State Government waste levy means every tonne of waste taken to landfill costs council and if we do not act to divert waste, this levy could cost the Ipswich community more than $60 million over the next decade.
“Council has already made big strides in reducing the amount of waste going to landfill through the hugely successful On Demand Large Item Kerbside Collection program.
“In its first year, 12,000 residents used the On Demand Kerbside Collection service and recycled nearly a thousand tonnes of material including whitegoods and green waste that would otherwise have ended up in landfill.”
Mayor Harding said the introduction of the garden organics bins is another major step in Ipswich’s waste journey in achieving waste reduction targets set by the State Government and those outlined in the City of Ipswich Resource Recovery Strategy 2021-2031.
“The Queensland Government’s waste recycling and reduction targets require Ipswich to decrease overall waste generation by 10 per cent by 2025, divert waste from landfill by 55 per cent and increase recycling by 50 per cent,” Mayor Harding said.
“Council is working towards these targets but there is a long way still to go, for instance, Ipswich’s municipal solid waste recycling rate is currently at 27 per cent, significantly below the 50 per cent target.”
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Councillor Jim Madden said council received $5.9 million towards the garden organics bin rollout from the State Government.
“Council has put in significant work to prepare for the rollout, purchasing nearly 70,000 lime-green lid garden organics bins,” Cr Madden said.
“In the weeks and months ahead, residents will hear and see more about the program to help them with the transition.
“The green-lid bin delivered to households in all suburbs across Ipswich will be for garden organics including grass clippings, leaves, twigs and small branches.
“More than 32,000 households in Ipswich already have a green-lid garden organics bin, and there will be no change to service collection for these households.
“I encourage residents to keep an eye out for communications about the garden organics bin rollout.”
The cost of the three-bin service will be included in the overall waste utility charge, similar to how the general waste and recycling kerbside collection services are currently charged.
This charge will be reflected on the July – September rates notice, however due to the rising costs of managing general waste, this cost will be less than maintaining a two-bin system.
This initiative is supported by the Queensland Governments Recycling and Jobs Fund.