We’ve all done it – forgotten to bring the bins in the next day (don’t tell me you haven’t).
But around 20 councils including Mackay, Townsville, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Gladstone and the Gold Coast are rolling out laws that will slug residents with a $2,523 fine if they leave their bins for more than 24 hours before or after rubbish collection day.
The new laws start 1 July and were introduced after the previous law expired. This also had the same fine, but didn’t specify a time period – just what was “reasonably appropriate before and after collection”.
Brisbane City Council already docks tardy bin owners $1,260.
The news sparked outrage from locals concerned they will be fined while away from home. “Can we fine our councils for being idiots?” one resident wrote.
Some councils now say they won’t be enforcing the law. But they also say it would only be policed if people complained about their neighbours – and let’s face it, who doesn’t love an excuse to dob them in?
Might be time to start remembering when bin night is.
