Never miss bin day thanks to new Recycle Mate app features

Published on 13 August 2026

Rockhampton Region residents can now get even more out of the free Recycle Mate app, with new features that make it easier for households to stay on top of bin day.

Recycle Mate is an innovative tool that takes the guesswork out of recycling by helping residents identify the right disposal option for thousands of everyday items, find nearby drop off points and get instant answers through a mobile app, web tools and multilingual chatbot, which supports 92 languages.

The latest app update now introduces bin night reminders, direct notifications, an events calendar and a dedicated news feed.

Waste and Recycling Councillor Shane Latcham said the latest upgrades make the app handier for busy households.

“These new features are all about making waste and recycling easier and more convenient for our community, with the app designed to help residents put the right item in the right place, and reducing unnecessary waste going to landfill,” Cr Latcham said.

“The bin night notification is a game changer, you’ll get a reminder straight to your phone telling you exactly which bins to put out, and you can set a time that suits your routine.

“We know everyone leads busy lives, so having a simple prompt can make a big difference, especially for families juggling work, school and everything in between.”

The app also includes an events calendar, giving residents a quick way to check for upcoming waste and recycling activities.

“These include events like our waste education pop-up stalls which will happen at the Heritage Village Markets on 15 August and the Pet Expo on 5 September,” Cr Latcham said.

“We’re always looking for ways to make waste education more accessible, and the events calendar and news feed put everything in one place.”

The final new addition is the instant notification feature, where Council can share important service change information.

“The instant notification feature gives us a direct line to residents which could prove invaluable if services are ever disrupted, such as during a flood event - allowing us to quickly notify residents of any changes to waste collection or waste facility operations,” Cr Latcham said.

“If you haven’t downloaded Recycle Mate yet, now is the perfect time to give it a try and see just how easy sorting your waste can be.”

Download the free Recycle Mate app from the Apple or Google Play store or visit Council’s website and search Sort My Waste.

State and Federal Government investment and a vast array of program partners has enabled the development of a national recycling (and broader resource recovery) education platform that fosters collaboration.