You read that right. Since the launch of our new bin labelling program, we’ve seen a rise in wheelie bin theft across Cooktown. And while we’ve all had a laugh at the “Bin Grinch” caught on camera, this is a serious issue with serious criminal consequences.
Fortunately, reporting bin theft is as easy as sitting on your couch:
- Report the theft online here.
- Queensland Police will issue you a complaint/report number.
- Then, follow these steps to get a new label:
How to Get a New Bin Label:
- Report the theft via the online form and record the police report number.
- Bring your bin to the Cooktown Waste Transfer Station for assessment and relabelling.
- Need help at home? We’ll come to you (call out fee applies)
Help Prevent Bin Theft:
-
Write down your bin’s unique ID number.
-
Label it clearly with your street address.
These quick steps make your bin less appealing to opportunistic Grinches and help police track down stolen property.
Our audit team keeps a register of all labelled bins, and we’ll be doing occasional spot checks to help prevent misuse. If a bin appears with a label that hasn’t been issued through us, we’ll follow it up with the property owner—and if needed, refer the matter to police.
We know most people do the right thing, and this program is about supporting our community to keep waste services fair and functioning smoothly for everyone.