How Waste Works in Circular Head
From your bin to its final destination
Every time you put something in a bin, it goes somewhere.
Understanding where it goes - and what happens next - helps make sense of why waste matters, what it costs, and how small actions can make a difference.
Step 1: At home
It starts with you.
You sort your waste into three bins:
- General waste (landfill) – for items that can’t be recycled
- Recycling (yellow lid) – for recyclable materials
- FOGO (green lid) – for food and garden waste
Getting this step right is one of the most important parts of the system.
Step 2: Collection
Your bins are collected from your property.
- General waste is collected by Council
- Recycling and FOGO are collected as part of contracted services
From here, each type of waste goes to a different place.
Step 3: Sorting and processing
Recycling
Your recycling is taken to a sorting facility, where materials like paper, cardboard, glass and plastics are separated and prepared for reuse
FOGO
Food and garden waste is taken to a composting facility.
It’s processed into products like compost, mulch and soil conditioners.
General waste (landfill)
General waste is taken to the Port Latta landfill.
This is where waste is buried.
Step 4: What happens next
- Recycled materials are turned into new products
- FOGO becomes compost and soil products
Landfill waste remains buried and attracts ongoing costs until the site is decommissioned and rehabilitated.
Why landfill matters most
Landfill is the most expensive part of the system.
Every tonne of waste sent to landfill:
- attracts the State landfill levy
- adds to long-term costs
- uses up limited landfill space
With the Port Latta landfill nearing the end of its life, future waste will need to be transported further — increasing costs even more.
Where the transfer station fits in
The White Hills Waste Transfer Station is part of this system.
It allows you to:
- drop off waste and recycling
- separate materials
- reduce what goes to landfill
Waste from the transfer station is either:
- recycled
- or transferred to landfill
Your role in the system
Small actions at home make a big difference across the whole system.
When you:
- use the right bin
- recycle correctly
- use FOGO for food and garden waste
you help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
The bigger picture
This is why waste is a shared responsibility.
What happens at home affects:
- how much waste goes to landfill
- how much the system costs
- how sustainable it is into the future