Cockatoos vs. Wheelie Bins: A Small Town's Ingenious Solution

The problem? Bold, clever cockatoos had learned to open wheelie bins, scattering rubbish across Lorne, Victoria. The solution? A simple plastic apron that foils the birds' grip, developed after five years of testing by local tinkerers.

The Battle of the Bins

For years, residents of Lorne, Victoria have waged a messy war against sulphur-crested cockatoos. These intelligent birds learned a frustrating trick: using their powerful beaks and claws to lift wheelie bin lids, then helping themselves to the contents inside.

The result was a regular mess of scattered rubbish across the picturesque coastal town.

Local authorities tried everything. Weights were added to bin lids. Locks were installed. Rubber strips were attached. The cockatoos found ways around each deterrent.

A Garage-Built Solution

Enter Allan Walls and Gary Fenton from the Lorne and District Men's Shed. After five years of testing, they developed a simple yet effective device: a plastic apron that attaches to the bin lid.

The apron, made from recycled plastic, prevents cockatoos from gripping the lid edge and lifting it.

"The theory is you can't lift what you're standing on," Walls explained. "And so far, there hasn't been a failure."

"You can't lift what you're standing on... there hasn't been a failure."
— Allan Walls, Lorne and District Men's Shed

Council Investment

The Surf Coast Shire has invested $50,000 to install 500 of these aprons on residents' bins for free. This comes after the council spent nearly $500,000 over 15 years on various deterrents and education campaigns—none of which worked as effectively.

In 2021, the council also introduced a local law limiting bin curbside placement to 24 hours before collection and requiring bins to be stored within 48 hours after. One resident, Grayman Jonas, even started a service connecting holiday homeowners with locals to manage their bins.

A Broader Perspective

Rod van Ingen, a Men's Shed committee member, sees potential beyond Lorne. "I think the sky's the limit," he said, suggesting the design could help other communities facing similar cockatoo challenges.

Dr. Christina Zdenik from BirdLife Australia supports the solution, noting that human activity has significantly impacted cockatoo habitat, driving them into urban areas.

"Human activity has impacted cockatoo habitat, driving them into urban areas."
— Dr. Christina Zdenik, BirdLife Australia

Local cafe owners report increasing aggression from the birds, including stealing food directly from tables.

Living Alongside Wildlife

Dr. Zdenik encourages residents not to feed the birds and to find ways to coexist with native wildlife. The apron solution appears to strike that balance—deterring the unwanted behavior without harming the cockatoos.

It's a small, clever fix for a problem that has plagued a community for years. All it took was some ingenuity, patience, and a willingness to think differently about a very determined bird.