Cape York is a very remote place; you won’t find rubbish bins in many of the areas you visit, such as the National Parks and Telegraph Track, as it is not practical for people to be driving around collecting them. It is up to you to carry and dispose of the rubbish you bring with you!
Don’t try and fit large bags of rubbish in the bins at roadhouses, there are special waste disposal facilities (cages) throughout the region for this, as well as waste stations at the towns. See map this page for locations within Cook Shire.
There are also black water drop points for caravans and RVs; please don’t empty loos in waterways or along the road, this is someone’s backyard. Dump points can be found at:
• Cooktown, on Adelaide Street
• Coen, on the right as you head north
• Weipa, at the Caravan Park
• Seisia, across from the Holiday Park, next to the amenities building
If you are bush camping you will need to dig a hole to go to the toilet, and then bury your paper. Ladies, you may not need to dig a hole to do a pee but you still need to dispose of the paper! Bury or burn it.
Please try and do the right thing and respect other travellers that come after you.
Cooktown Waste Station
Tues and Fri 7am-4pm
Wed & Thurs 7am-9am & 3pm-5pm
Sun 8am-4.30pm
Closed for lunch 12-12.30pm
Ayton Waste Station
Wed 2pm-4pm & Sat 11am-1pm
Lakeland Waste Station
Tues and Sun 8am-12noon
Laura Waste Station
Mon & Fri 1pm-4pm and Sun 2pm-4pm
Please Don’t Trash the Cape!!!