Lismore Households Throw Away $670,000 in Container Refunds
Lismore households are missing out on an estimated $670,000 in container refunds each year, while sending thousands of tonnes of recyclable and compostable material to landfill, according to the latest Lismore City Council Kerbside Domestic Waste Audit.
The 2026 audit found that while residents are doing an excellent job using the city’s Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) system, too much recoverable waste is still ending up in red-lid general waste bins.
Conducted by APC Waste Consultants in May, the audit examined waste collected from 316 randomly selected urban and rural households. More than 5.5 tonnes of material was sorted and analysed at the Lismore Resource & Recovery Centre to better understand local recycling habits.
The results showed 96 per cent compliance in green-lid FOGO bins and 81 per cent compliance in yellow-lid recycling bins, highlighting the community’s strong understanding of composting and recycling practices.
However, the audit also revealed that 43 per cent of the material placed in general waste bins could have been diverted from landfill using existing recycling and FOGO services.
Lismore City Council Director of Water, Waste and Open Spaces Matt Potter said the findings highlighted both the community’s success and the opportunities for improvement.
“This audit tells us two stories,” Mr Potter said.
“Lismore residents are showing they know how to recycle and compost, with outstanding FOGO results and strong recycling compliance. At the same time, we’re still sending too much to landfill.”
He said the audit estimated eligible drink containers discarded in household rubbish represented approximately $670,000 in unclaimed refunds, while food waste placed in landfill continued to generate methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.
The audit also identified contamination issues, including bagged recyclables, electronic waste, lithium batteries and treated timber being disposed of incorrectly.
Council Manager Capital and Strategic Works Michael Magalhaes said batteries and e-waste should never be placed in kerbside bins due to the fire risk they present.
He pointed to a fire at the Lismore recycling facility earlier this year, believed to have been caused by a discarded battery, as a reminder of the importance of using designated recycling drop-off points.
Mr Magalhaes said treated timber should also be disposed of correctly, with larger quantities taken to the Lismore Resource & Recovery Centre or the Nimbin Transfer Station.
With NSW aiming to recover 80 per cent of all waste by 2030, Council is encouraging residents to continue making the most of existing recycling, FOGO and container return programs to reduce landfill, improve environmental outcomes and put money back in their own pockets.
