Wheelie bins will be banned and rubbish will go underground when an automated waste system is installed on the Sunshine Coast.

Key points: Automated waste collection system is an Australian-first

Automated waste collection system is an Australian-first Will be installed in stages over coming decade

Will be installed in stages over coming decade Mayor Mark Jamieson says it will eliminate waste odours, vermin and costs of daily street cleaning

The high-tech, automated waste collection system is an Australian-first and will become part of the new 53-hectare Maroochydore CBD.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson said the waste system would be installed in stages over the coming decade, making the Maroochydore CBD one of the cleanest and greenest cities in the country.

He said rather than using wheelie bins, waste would be transported from commercial buildings and apartments at up to 70 kilometres per hour through a six-and-a-half-kilometre system of underground vacuum pipes.

"It will be laid into the new foundations of the CBD in Maroochydore," he said.

"Obviously this is a unique opportunity with a greenfield site to introduce such technology.

"It would be very difficult to retrofit this anywhere else."

Rubbish chutes feed into underground pipes which suck the rubbish away. ( Supplied: Sunshine Coast Council )

Councillor Jamieson said it would eliminate waste odours and vermin and the costs of daily street cleaning would be reduced.

"The rubbish revolution means that city workers and residents will never have to walk past rows of wheelie bins or be woken early by noisy garbage trucks in the Maroochydore city centre," he said.

The council is following Stockholm, Seoul, Barcelona, London, Singapore and Beijing which have all utilised the Envac waste collection system.

Higher recycling rates an expected benefit

Councillor Jamieson said the system used three waste inlets for organic, recyclable and general waste.

"Waste dropped into each inlet will be stored in a sealed compartment below ground until the vacuum pump is activated at the central waste facility, usually twice each day," he said.

"As well as making our city heart more attractive, this technology has a track record of increasing recycling rates, so our natural environment will benefit too.

"The waste system will cost $21 million, which will be fully recovered from occupants of the CBD over the life of the system."

Councillor Jamieson said the Envac system would service residents in their apartments, businesses and people using public spaces or facilities.

Half of the cost will be funded by the Sun-Central development company.

The balance will be funded by the residents who use it into the future.