Waste disposal and bin collection update for Ballina Shire residents

Published on 10 March 2025

The Ballina Resource Recovery Centre has now reopened, following a temporary closure due to severe weather. Council has implemented free storm waste drop-off and supplementary bin collection services to assist residents impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Free drop-off for cyclone-related waste

Ballina Shire Council is providing a free storm waste drop-off service at the Ballina Resource Recovery Centre at 167 Southern Cross Drive, to assist residents impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The centre will be open from 8am to 4pm daily for residents to dispose of:

• Green waste from storm damage, including fallen branches and vegetation.
• Building waste caused by storm damage or from flood-affected properties.
• Excess household waste from bins missed on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 March.

This free service is strictly for cyclone-related waste. General household waste and non-storm-related building debris are not eligible, and normal fees will apply.

Customers will be required to provide their residential address (Ballina Shire residents only) to assist Council in recovering waste management costs from state and federal governments. Please have this information ready or written down to present to the weighbridge officer on arrival.

Due to high demand, residents should expect delays at the Resource Recovery Centre over the coming days. Council appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as clean-up efforts continue.

Please do not place waste relating to Tropical Cyclone Alfred on the kerbside. Residents who are unable to transport waste can contact the Waste Management Centre on 02 6686 1287 to discuss alternative arrangements.

Supplementary kerbside bin collection services

Normal kerbside bin collection services resume today Monday 10 March.

To assist with missed collections, Council has scheduled supplementary kerbside bin collection services as follows:

• Bins missed on Thursday 6 March will be collected on Tuesday 11 March (landfill red and FOGO green lid bins in the urban, and landfill and recycle bins in the rural collection zone).
• Bins missed on Friday 7 March will be collected on Wednesday 12 March (landfill red and FOGO green lid bins in the urban, and landfill and recycle bins in the rural collection zone).
• For these impacted properties, regular collections will resume on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March (recycle and FOGO bins in urban, and landfill in rural collection zones).

Residents can drop off excess household waste from missed bins at the Resource Recovery Centre free of charge.

Organic waste and spoiled food

To prevent contamination and minimise unnecessary waste, please separate all spoiled/uneaten food from packaging. Place food into the FOGO bin and packaging into the landfill or recycle bin where appropriate.

Sandbag disposal

Council encourages residents to dispose of sandbags responsibly once severe weather and the risk of flooding have passed. If you have space at your property, you may choose to store unused sandbags for future weather events.

We encourage full sandbags to be returned to the old council depot on Tamarind Drive opposite Ballina Fair. See below map for drop-off location (a sign will soon be placed indicating drop-off location). Council will also conduct a kerbside collection of bags unable to be delivered to the depot site.

Sandbag disposal guidelines:

• Empty sandbags should be placed in the general waste bin. Do not put full sandbags in your general waste bin.
• Full sandbags can be taken to Council’s old depot location (map below) for proper disposal.

Council appreciates the community’s patience and cooperation as recovery efforts continue. Updates on waste disposal, bin collections, and sandbag disposal will be provided as needed.

Image: Full sandbags can be taken to Council’s old depot location for proper disposal. Access is via the east-bound lane on Tamarind Drive. West-bound traffic should detour via the roundabout at intersection of North Creek Road and Tamarind Drive.