Bin Inspection
& Tagging Program
Case Study
Improving Recycling Quality Through Direct Household Engagement
Knowwaste Pty Ltd has worked with Councils across NSW and Victoria to deliver targeted bin inspection and tagging programs aimed at reducing contamination in kerbside recycling and organics services.
The programs focus on providing direct, real-time feedback to residents about how they are using their bins, helping to improve source separation behaviours and increase the quality of recyclable and organic materials collected through the kerbside system.
Project Objectives
Councils engage Knowwaste to:
Reduce contamination in recycling and FOGO bins
Increase resident awareness of correct bin usage
Improve resource recovery outcomes
Gather data on common contamination issues
Support ongoing community education initiatives
Program Delivery
Knowwaste conducts kerbside inspections prior to collection across targeted residential areas. Each bin is visually assessed for contamination, presentation quality, and overall usage behaviours.
Following inspection, households received customised bin tags providing immediate feedback, including:
Positive reinforcement for correctly sorted bins
Education on incorrect materials identified in the bin
Clear guidance on what should and should not be placed in each service
Targeted messaging aligned with council waste education campaigns
The inspections cover general waste, mixed recycling, and FOGO bins across both Single-Unit Dwellings (SUDs) and Multi-Unit Dwellings (MUDs).
Data Collection & Reporting
All inspection data is captured digitally in the field using mobile devices, allowing for detailed analysis of contamination trends and resident behaviours.
Knowwaste provided council with:
Contamination hotspot mapping
Common contamination item analysis
Participation and presentation rate data
Recommendations for future education and enforcement actions
Bin contamination trend reporting
The programs also enable council to identify recurring issues within specific streets, housing types, and collection zones.
Key Outcomes
The bin tagging programs deliver several measurable benefits:
Increased resident awareness of correct recycling and FOGO practices
Reduction in visible contamination within targeted areas
Improved engagement with council waste education messaging
Better understanding of contamination drivers across the community
Stronger evidence base for future operational and education planning
Why Bin Tagging Works
Bin tagging programs provide councils with a proactive and highly visible way to engage residents at the point of disposal behaviour.
By combining education, field observations, and data collection, councils can improve recycling quality, reduce processing contamination costs, and increase diversion outcomes without major service changes.
Knowwaste delivers tailored bin inspection and tagging programs that combine practical field expertise with detailed data analysis to support long-term behaviour change and improved kerbside performance.