The NSW government gave $28,055 to council yesterday as part of the Waste Less Recycle More program. 

The money will be used to provide new public bins across the city and fund anti-litter education campaigns.

Council’s waste services co-ordinator Elfi Blackburn said the Rutherford shopping precinct would be the first site to receive new bins, with seven scheduled to be in place by October.

Public recycling bins will also be trialled at the site.

Ms Blackburn said council would target litter hot-spots including parks,   shopping centres and youth spaces.

“We’ve got a couple of recycling bins in Maitland Park and they work very well,” she said. “There is very little contamination and they are highly visible.”

Money will also be used for anti-litter advertising campaigns and educational workshops for children, which will be held at council’s library branches during school holidays.

Maitland MP Robyn Parker said she was delighted that Maitland had received the funding.

“The good thing to hear about Maitland council is initiatives like away-from-home recycling bins,” she said.

“Everyone is really good at home with recycling but when they are out and about there are not often recycling bins provided by councils. If we can have recycling bins out in shopping centres, parks and reserves, people will by and large do the right thing.”