Marine Parade-Braddell Heights Town Council has responded to a video of uniformed cleaners returning bottles and cans for deposits, saying the containers came from drinks they bought themselves or were given directly by residents.
The workers were returning them outside working hours, the council said in a Facebook statement on 1 November 2026, as reported by 8world.
Video Prompted Questions About Different Treatment
8world reported that a TikTok video posted by user jiatong888 showed two cleaners wearing the town council’s uniform returning a large bag of beverage containers at a return machine.
The uploader questioned whether cleaners were being treated differently from members of the public who are prohibited from taking containers from public rubbish bins.
Workers Advised to Avoid Uniforms During Personal Returns
The council said its workers are strictly prohibited from searching rubbish or recycling bins for containers. It had communicated this requirement to all its cleaners since the Beverage Container Return Scheme began.
Following the incident, it reminded workers to follow its operating guidelines.
It also advised them against wearing their work uniforms during personal container returns outside working hours, to avoid giving the impression that they were acting on the council’s behalf.
The council said cleaners are members of the community who can participate in the scheme in their own time, while observing proper work practices. It would continue working with its cleaning contractor to reinforce these expectations.
What the Government Has Said About Searching Bins
In a written parliamentary reply on 6 October 2026, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said rummaging through public refuse bins, taking items from them, and leaving or spilling waste on the ground are against the law.
She said the National Environment Agency would take action against people who committed these offences.
