In the last 12 months, Shellharbour residents generated 14,000 tonnes of general waste in their red bins. Of that 14,000 tonnes, Shellharbour City Council found that only 16 per cent should have gone into the red bin.

When broken down, 40 per cent was food, 21 per cent was recoverable items (such as appliances, toys), 19 per cent were recyclables and the remaining 4 per cent was green waste.

To help educate residents about the best ways to manage their waste, the council runs free monthly earthwork courses, teaching residents to "choose the right bin, don't just throw it in".

The council's technology waste officer Diane Tierney said the course helped clear up some common mistakes made at the bin.

"Plastics are the most common thing people get wrong.

"Only rigid plastics are recyclable. Do the crunch test, if you can grab it and it springs back into shape then it's recyclable.

"Plastic shampoo bottles, water bottles can all be recycled as well as aerosol cans including the actual plastic top and steel cans.

"It used to be that you would have to clean out cans and bottles, but as long as the contents are empty you can recycle it."

Ms Tierney said there were plenty of options to reduce general waste.

"We look at alternatives for managing waste such as compost bins, worm farms and bokashi bucket - a Japanese fermentation process.

"For a compost you need a space about the size of a medium esky. Worm farms can be kept in the garage and are totally self-contained, same as a bokashi bucket.

"They are very good if you have veggie garden and it's a great source of closing the loop by adding contents into the garden and adding to carbon cycle.

"Anyone who comes along get a voucher for a compost bin, worm farm or bokashi bucket all for free."

Ms Tierney said the council were also running Tip Tours to help residents save money at the landfill and any ratepayer can help themselves to the mulch from green waste as long as they self-load.

The next course will be held on Tuesday, May 19, Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, July 19 at Shell Cove Community Centre. Call 4221 6111.