10 Olympic sized swimming pools of recycling kept out of landfill

Published on 11 June 2026

Gympie Region residents helped divert more than 2,700 tonnes of recycling, enough to fill 10 Olympic-sized swimming pools, from landfill over the past 12 months.

Since July last year, material collected from more than 445,000 kerbside recycling bins and a further 12 garbage truckloads from Council waste facilities has been recycled, buying valuable time for Council to finalise planning for the region’s next waste management facility.

The recycled materials were transported to the Maryborough Material Recovery Facility, where they were sorted and processed into new products.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said the result reflected the community’s strong commitment to recycling.

“I want to thank the entire community for the part they’ve played in this achievement,” Mayor Hartwig said.

“Every week, thousands of households across the Gympie Region take the time to sort their waste correctly, and it is those small actions, repeated day after day, that make a real difference.

“Disposing of recyclable materials at Council’s waste management facilities is free for all residents, regardless of income. Each year, Council deliberately funds this service as part of its budget to ensure everyone in the community can recycle responsibly and help keep waste out of landfill and the environment.

“This is a more practical approach than incentives such as kerbside pickups or dump vouchers, which would place additional pressure on a landfill nearing capacity and add costs that would ultimately fall to ratepayers to fund.”

Mayor Hartwig said planning for the region’s future waste needs remained a key focus for Council.

“Council’s Waste Strategy 2025–2035 estimates the landfill at Bonnick Road Waste Management Facility will reach capacity in the next few years. Funding allocated in the 2025–26 Budget is supporting ongoing work to identify suitable locations for the region’s next waste site,” he said.

“This is one of the most significant projects Council has undertaken in recent history, and once completed, the new facility will ensure the region has the space it needs to manage its waste for the next 50 years.

“In the meantime, every cardboard box or milk bottle that is kept out of landfill buys Council valuable time to continue planning for the region’s next waste facility.

“As part of the 2026–27 Budget deliberations, Council will continue to allocate funding to continue to explore ways to expand recycling education and awareness programs that help residents understand what goes into the yellow-lid recycling bin and why it matters.

“This includes school-based programs delivered by Council’s resource recovery team, and education initiatives such as the recently launched Bin Kid digital campaign and the Queensland Government’s Let’s Get It Sorted program.

“The choices we make today as a Council and community will shape how we manage waste in the Gympie Region for years to come.”

Council’s website provides fact sheets and practical recycling guides, along with information on how to download Council’s WasteWise smartphone app to help residents sort their waste correctly.

To find out more visit: Recycling | Gympie Regional Council

ENDS