KINGSTON Council says its controversial decision to remove bins from beaches has proved a “big success”. This summer Kingston Council moved bins from the beach to foreshore car parks, road reserves, pathways, and beach access points. It says bin collections increased by 30 percent in comparison to the previous summer, and reports of overflowing bins decreased by 70 percent.
Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley acknowledged that there were some early issues when the change was made, but says that they have been addressed. “As with most major changes we did experience some teething problems as the new system was implemented, but we were able to make some adjustments based on the experiences of our community,” Oxley said. “The service is now agile and responsive to increased beach use, hot weather forecasts, and further supported by the collection of data, including through bin sensors, QR code reporting and customer feedback.
“We are dedicated to caring for our awesome coastline and we now have a more efficient and effective service that has improved the experience for our beachgoers, reduced litter and the associated odours and environmental concerns, and improved safety. A big thanks to locals and visitors alike who have responded positively to the change and taken personal responsibility for their waste when visiting our beaches.”
Council’s decision was criticised by residents prior to summer last year. (“Beach bin removal slammed” The News 9/10/24)
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 14 May 2025
