The noise of your business’s bins being emptied at night can disturb your neighbours who live in the CBD. The City of Melbourne is working in partnership with industry to reduce noise from commercial waste collection, and minimise disturbed sleep for residents and visitors.
While waste management will always make some degree of noise, it is possible for waste collectors, businesses and residents to work together to create a better environment.
Waste Collection Code of Practice
Management of Noise from Waste Collection – A Code of Practice has been adopted by council in order to balance the need to collect rubbish from busy parts of the inner city with the desire of residents for a good night’s sleep.
Unlike suburban areas where waste is generally collected by one company once a week, city businesses have the right to use any collector they like as often as required.
Under the code, a number of areas have been designated restricted access zones, meaning no rubbish can be collected in the area between 11pm and 6am. The restricted access zones are:
- Cocker Alley, Monaghan Place, Scott Alley, Royston Place, Manchester Lane and Flinders Lane (Swanston to Degraves streets)
- Bank Place, Roeszler Lane, Mitre Lane and Little Collins Street (Between Austral Lane to Temple Court)
- Finlay Alley, Hardware Street and Ozimek Lane
The selection of these zones was based on the high number of residents living within them, and the large amount of commercial waste collection taking place.
Additional guidelines include operators' conduct, operation and equipment maintenance and complaint management to assist in managing noise.
The Management of Noise from Waste Collection – A Code of Practice (PDF, 39kb) 
The Management of Noise from Waste Collection – A Code of Practice (Text only, 104kb)
How your business can make a difference when choosing a waste contractor
Businesses can make a difference by using waste contractors who adhere to the code of practice. When your business selects a waste collection contractor make sure they are committed to noise reduction.
Contractors who are committed to the code include:
- CityWide Service Solutions Pty Ltd
- Eastern Liquid Waste Services
- JJ Richards
- KS Environmental Pty Ltd
- Remondis Pty Ltd
- SITA Environmental Solutions
- Stows Waste Management
- Transpacific Industries Group Ltd (TPI)
- Transpacific Technical Services
- Visy Recycling