The people of Rockingham & surrounds have spoken loud and clear, and it’s time for the City of Rockingham to listen.

In a recent Baldivis Times community poll, over 7,200 residents voted for weekly red bin collections. Just 543 supported the current fortnightly system. That’s an overwhelming majority who feel the system isn’t working, and who deserve to have their voices heard.

Right now, households across the City of Rockingham, including Baldivis, Cooloongup, East Rockingham, Garden Island, Golden Bay, Hillman, Karnup, Peron, Port Kennedy, Safety Bay, Secret Harbour, Shoalwater, Singleton, Waikiki, and Warnbro, are struggling with a system that simply doesn’t meet community needs.

❌ The Problem
The current 140-litre red bin, collected fortnightly, has created a growing list of problems:

• Overflowing bins filled with nappies, sanitary products, and household waste left rotting for two weeks.
• Health hazards & pests from decaying waste, attracting flies, rats, and maggots.
  
  
• Illegal dumping in bushland, nature reserves, and park bins.
• FIFO workers and renters are missing collections, left with stockpiles of waste for a month.
• Stress on families with babies, pets, and larger households who cannot fit their waste into the smaller bin.

The Baldivis Times team has personally witnessed the damage. In our own bushland walks, we’ve seen trash, nappies, cans, bottles, meat products, and household waste dumped in nature reserves,  a direct result of the reduced bin service. This isn’t just unsightly, it’s dangerous for wildlife, degrading for our environment, and heartbreaking for locals who love our bushland.

✅ The Solution

We are not asking for FOGO to be scrapped. We support greener futures, smarter waste management, and sustainable practices.

But the current system is broken, and the people deserve a choice that works.

We are calling for Rockingham Council to reinstate weekly red bin collections, or offer a larger red bin option (like the City of Swan provides free of charge).

This simple change would:

- Reduce illegal dumping and protect our bushland.

- Improve community health & hygiene by reducing pests and odours.

- Ease the stress on families who cannot cope with fortnightly waste.

- Support FIFO workers and renters who often miss scheduled collections.

- Encourage sustainable waste habits by making it easier to keep recycling and FOGO bins free of contamination.

🗣️ What Locals Are Saying
This is not just numbers, it’s real people, with real stories.

“I think the smell of nappies and sanitary products is not good. I have been monitoring my food waste and it really is hardly anything at all. The red bin needs emptying weekly for most families.” — Mark

“I am all for the introduction of the FOGO bin but the current implementation is not the way. Residents can’t afford to be throwing out ample amounts of organic waste to justify the new schedule… It’s creating people to bin hunt on bin day, and park bins are filling up with household waste.” — Natasha

“A household with more than 2 people to have waste grow in a bin for not being collected weekly is causing problems. Bins are overflowing, rubbish is everywhere, and many people are putting household waste in public bins.” — Louisa

These are just a handful of the voices in our community, thousands more feel the same way.

📢 Why This Matters
When 7,200 residents say one thing, and just 543 say the opposite, it’s clear where the community stands. The council has a responsibility to listen.

This is not about politics. It’s not about opposing sustainability. It’s about fair, practical, and community-driven waste management.

The council needs to understand that good policy only works if the people can live with it. Right now, we can’t.

✍️ Add Your Voice
By signing this petition, you’re helping show Rockingham Council that our community wants real action:
✅ Weekly red bin collections OR larger bin options.
✅ A waste system that works for families.
✅ Protection for our bushland and environment.

Together, we can ensure the City of Rockingham delivers a system that is fair, healthy, and sustainable for all of us.

🗑️ Sign today. Share with your neighbours. Let’s make our voices impossible to ignore.