Twelve-year-old Margaret River Primary School student Willem Healy has been announced as the official ambassador for the Shire of Augusta Margaret River's Best We've Ever Bin campaign.
Initiated to coincide with the roll out of the new three-bin kerbside collection service, the campaign aims to help locals adapt to the service, divert waste from landfill, and use the bins correctly to reduce contamination.
Shire Waste Education and Project Officer Jackie Dickson said to date the campaign has focused on communication, the logistics of the changeover and basic bin usage information.
It's now time to work with a community ambassador to help lead a cultural change about waste management, and increase community pride, ownership and buy-in into the new bin service.
"We have been brainstorming as to who might make a great ambassador since the project's inception over a year ago," Ms Dickson said.
"We thought about which local identities would work, plus had a short list of celebrities we wanted to approach.
"Then by pure chance I had the good fortune of meeting Willem at a school presentation and was absolutely convinced on the spot I had found the right ambassador.
"He has an absolutely fascinating knowledge of all things to do with the Shire's bins, recycling and waste management systems.
"His curiosity and interest in the subject is just incredible and he clearly has so much to offer to his local community as a bin campaign ambassador."
Willem's dad Craig Healy said his son has had a keen interest in waste and recycling from an early age.
"Willem takes every opportunity to ensure all those around him are embracing the new bin service," he said.
"He always checks in on me and lets me know if I'm doing it right."
"I am very proud his interest has been recognised and he has been given a platform to share everything he knows about his passion."
As for Willem, he said he is very honoured and proud to be the first Best We've Ever Bin ambassador as it allows him to ensure the recycling order is kept within his street and at school.
"I like being the ambassador for the new bins because I get to help people and help the environment," he said.
"I hope I can teach more people how to do it right."
Willem's first appearance as the bin ambassador will be at Shire Waste Education stand at the Margaret River and Districts Agriculture Show this weekend.
You can ask him and the Shire's waste team all your questions about using the 3-bin service.
The 3-bin service has already seen success in waste diverted from landfill with 57 per cent of the waste in the kerbside bins being recycled or transformed into compost, a 37 per cent improvement on the diversion rate before the 3-bin service was introduced.