The Council’s new ‘bin marking’ scheme with cash prizes is alienating residents

It’s the latest council scheme to divide residents, but beyond the kerbside drama, the City of Perth’s new ‘bin tagging’ scheme in Victoria Park could have an unexpected impact on the local property market.

As councils across Australia roll out schemes to improve recycling, the question for homeowners and investors is: can your waste habits impact your city’s creativity?

Victoria Park city council this week announced the launch of a state-funded education program designed to “help residents build confidence in managing waste properly”.

A LOT OF NEWS

Aus council weird trash can alert

Revealed: Australia’s safest places to live

Your love of grass can cost you everything

The initiative involves a “non-intrusive inspection of the top of your kerbside bins on collection day”, and household bins are marked with a smiley or sad face, along with feedback on how to improve.

Markers with smiling or sad faces are places in residents’ bins. Source: City of Victoria Park

---

While the concept of “binning” has caused controversy in the past, with some residents feeling “embarrassed” by the public display of their recycling prowess – or lack thereof – Perth council is adding a unique twist: financial incentives.

“No fines, no fines, just a chance to win weekly vouchers of $50 and a grand prize of $200,” the council shared online, sparking a heated debate among locals.

However, for some residents, it is a step too far.

“This is a joke, isn’t it. We’ll have people coming to look in our bins and bring smiley stickers or not,” commented one resident, likening it to “backward” or “big brother” surveillance.

Such sentiments may raise questions about perceived suburban livability and privacy, factors that often concern potential buyers.

However, others believe it is a “good move”, arguing that “poor sorting of our waste leads to high costs, not to mention defeats the whole purpose of having separate bins.”

A controversial large-scale tagging scheme has been rolled out across the country. Source: WA Government/Reddit

---

Proponents of the program say bin marking has been shown to improve recycling rates by up to 25 percent and reduce pollution by up to 60 percent.

From a structural perspective, these improvements can translate into tangible benefits.

Clean recycling streams and less waste sent to landfills contribute to a greener, more sustainable society – a key card for modern families and environmentally conscious investors.

Rising waste disposal costs are also often cited by councils to raise rates each year.

By reducing the high costs councils face for processing waste recycling, funds can be redirected to improving local infrastructure or community programs.

Improved amenities, parks, and services can directly improve a suburb’s desirability and, by extension, its property values.

This program aims to educate households about recycling and pollution. Source: WA Government

---

The initiative to mark bins has already been rolled out across Australia, including Western Australia, NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

Earlier, Linda Hall from Chirnside Park, Melbourne spoke to Yahoo News after the launch of the program in her area.

“I felt bad for my neighbors who received red tags, I saw their faces, some laughed, while others were embarrassed,” he said.

Mum Kali, also from Melbourne, admitted she felt it was a “disgrace” to the residents.

“Our whole street was embarrassed about it,” he told Yahoo.

A Melbourne mother has revealed her entire street is ‘frustrated’ after the council left notes in residents’ bins. Source: Provided

---

Therefore, while the debate is burning the barrels of “smiling faces”, the movement of the City of Victoria Park highlights a growing trend: council programs, however small they may seem, are increasingly playing a role in the formation of the suburb’s image, life, and ultimately, the local market.

For homeowners and investors alike, looking at your local council’s waste management strategy can be as important as checking the latest interest rates.