The 29th of May marks the Kerbside Collection day for some areas over the Walter Taylor Bridge, namely: Chelmer, Graceville, Sherwood, and Oxley. With only a few days to go, you are probably starting to get ready by now. To make things easier for you, here are four tips on how to prepare for the upcoming collection.
1. Declutter your stuff, the KonMari way.
KonMari is a decluttering method introduced by Marie Kondo from Japan. The process basically involves gathering all the items you want to organise from all over the house then grouping these items in categories like “shoes”, “clothes”, or “books”. This process will allow you to concentrate on each category; thereby making the course of decluttering faster and easier.
Once the items are categorised, go through them and start deciding what to get rid of and what to keep. The best thing to do is to put in your mind that “everything has to go”. Then, choose only those items that “spark joy.” According to the KonMari method, “keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest.”
2. Check the BCC’s list of Acceptable and Non-acceptable items.
Be careful when putting your unwanted items on the kerb. Due to previous Kerbside Collection incidents, the Brisbane City Council (BCC) has set standards on things that are acceptable and those that are not. To prevent any further inconveniences on both the BCC and the community, illegal dumping fines will be imposed for non-acceptable items that are not removed on the kerb within seven days of the collection period.
Click here to see the list of acceptable and non-acceptable items.
3. Measure your pile according to BCC’s pile limit.
For everyone’s convenience, the BCC has also set a limit on the measure of respective piles that locals can mount up. Be sure to measure your pile. It should not exceed two cubic metres. If you have a lot of items you want to discard, organise them further upon piling on the kerb to save more space for bigger items. Note that the BCC will not collect items from piles that exceed the imposed limit.
4. Determine which stuff you can donate or recycle.
If you find you have a lot of items you want to get rid of and your pile already exceeds the BCC limit, consider other options instead. There are a few other ways to efficiently discard those unwanted items. You may find that not only will you be decluttering your space, but you will also be discarding items for a good cause.
For one, the BCC has resource recovery centres (or transfer stations) you might want to check out. They are located in Chandler, Ferny Grove, Nudgee, and Willawong. These upgraded centres offer “free recycling for vehicles under 4.5 tonnes RGVM.” Help reduce the amount of waste landfill and bring your items to one of the centres. They are open seven days a week (including holidays) from 6:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Fees and charges apply or you can just use your waste vouchers instead.
Items given to the BCC centres go to the Council’s tip shops in Acacia Ridge and Geebung. Run by Endeavour Foundation, the proceeds of these shops are used to support people with disabilities. The shops are open every weekend from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Feel free to stop by.
Another way to discard items is to check which ones are still usable. As the practical adage goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Certainly, there are items that are still pretty much useful to others. Consider donating them. You can bring/send these items to GIVIT or NACRO.
GIVIT is a “national not-for-profit” organisation with an online service that lists items “urgently needed” by other locals. The service also “connects you to trusted charities” where you can donate useable items.
NACRO (National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations, Inc.) is Australia’s “peak organisation” for charities and charity op shops. They accept recyclable items like “clothing, furniture, household and workplace goods.” These items will be either be given to the disadvantaged or used for funding local welfare programs.
There you go! Once you have everything sorted out, you will then be ready to put all those unneeded items at the kerb. Do it on the weekend prior to the designated collection schedule. Note that on the day of the collection, everything must already be on the kerb by 6:00 a.m.
Remember to pile the items tidily so the streets won’t look like some stray dogs have just toppled a big wheelie bin. Put smaller items in boxes and fold the clothes neatly. Big items like refrigerators, cupboards, and couches, should not block the pathway or even a miniature section of the road.
For more information about BCC’s kerbside collection, download the award-winning Brisbane Bin and Recycling app here. The app is totally free and it comes with a reminder feature, too. That way, you won’t be able to miss out on your suburb’s collection day.
