Published on Thursday, 11 June 2026 at 12:56:15 PM
Our community may have seen a story on Perth Now today, published in print, the website and on social media, concerning a bin collection mix up 2 weeks ago.
The Town received a report from the community that a waste contractor had emptied a FOGO bin and a general waste (red) bin from the one verge into the same rubbish truck.
Cleanaway investigated the incident promptly and identified that human error occurred when a driver who usually does FOGO collections accidentally emptied one FOGO bin into the wrong truck while collecting red bins. Cleanaway has committed to implementing measures to reduce the likelihood of this type of driver error.
We would like to take this opportunity to address some inconsistencies in the initial media reporting, as outlined below:
👉 The Town has not 'defended' the mix up. The Town has accepted Cleanaway's explanation on this occasion, and is not aware of similar incidents occurring since the introduction of the FOGO collection in 2025.
👉 No residents have been fined for incorrect waste disposal. Although the potential for financial penalties exists, this is intended as a last resort in extreme cases.
We echo the community's expectation that their good work in sorting their waste into the correct bins is supported by a rigorous collection system. We are committed to continuous improvement and will continue to work with our waste contractors to ensure the community's expectations are met.
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