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                    Bins and collections

                    Landfill and recycling wheelie bins
                    Find out the regular collection days for your general waste bin and recycling bin, what can go in each bin, and how to report lost, stolen or damaged bins and missed collections.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​How often are bins collected?

                    General waste (landfill) bins and food and garden waste bins are collected weekly.

                    Recycling (yellow lid) bins are collected fortnightly, except for low-rise multi-unit properties with a communal food and garden organics service. These properties have a weekly recycling collection.

                    If your property has a lime green lid food and garden waste bin and a fortnightly recycling collection, please refer to the collection calendars below​.

                    2023–24 waste collection calendar​

                    The new 2023-24 waste collection calendars are now available to download. Hard copies printed on recyclable paper are also available to collect from: 

                    Customer Service Centre at Melbourne Town Hall 

                    120 Swanston Street, Melbourne 

                    8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (public holidays excluded) ​

                    Refer to our A-Z guide to recycling and waste disposal​ for options to recycle/dispose of items which can't go in your recycling bin.

                    Collection days map

                    ​Select an area on the map below to see the collection day for that area.​​​​​​

                    Festive Season bin collection changes – Mon 25 to Sat 30 December

                    Garbage, Recycling and FOGO collections will not take place on Christmas Day, Monday 25 December 2023.

                    Collections from Monday 25 December - Friday 29 December will be collected the day after your usual collection day.

                    This means a usual Friday 29 December collection will be collected on Saturday 30 December.

                    Normal service commences on Monday 1 January, with no changes on New Year’s day.

                    ​​How often are bins collected?

                    General waste (landfill) bins and food and garden waste bins are collected weekly.

                    Recycling (yellow lid) bins are collected fortnightly, except for low-rise multi-unit properties with a communal food and garden organics service. These properties have a weekly recycling collection.

                    If your property has a lime green lid food and garden waste bin and a fortnightly recycling collection, please refer to the collection calendars below​.

                    2023–24 waste collection calendar​

                    The new 2023-24 waste collection calendars are now available to download. Hard copies printed on recyclable paper are also available to collect from: 

                    Customer Service Centre at Melbourne Town Hall 

                    120 Swanston Street, Melbourne 

                    8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (public holidays excluded) ​

                    Refer to our A-Z guide to recycling and waste disposal​ for options to recycle/dispose of items which can't go in your recycling bin.

                    Collection days map

                    ​Select an area on the map below to see the collection day for that area.​​​​​​

                    Skip Map
                    Map of bin collection days
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                    Bin sizes

                    Refer to our bin size guide (PDF 700 KB)​ for bin measurements. Bin sizes can also be found on the top rim of the bin body.

                    Public holidays: Recycling and landfill bins are collected on all public holidays except for Good Friday and Christmas Day, where collections will occur the following day (Saturday for Friday collection).

                    Report a lost or damaged bin, or missed collection

                    ​​If there's a problem with your bin, or your bin collection was missed for an unknown reason, you can report it online.

                    Missing, stolen or damaged bins will be repaired or replaced free of charge. 

                    Before reporting a missed collection, please check:

                    • A sticker or tag may have been placed on your bin if it contained inappropriate material.  The sticker or tag will have instructions on how to arrange another collection. 
                    • Bins are emptied anytime between 6am and 4pm on your collection day. Please wait until after 4pm before reporting a missed collection.
                    • If you have a food and garden waste service you may be on a fortnightly recycling collection. Please check your collection calendar before reporting a missed collection.

                    Placing your bin out for collection

                    To allow us to safely empty your bin, please ensure that your bin is taken out to the kerb with the lid closed between 6pm the night before collection and 6am on your bin collection day​.

                    Please place bins 30 cm apart and at least 1 metre from power poles and street signs.

                    If you live in an apartment building, your building manager may oversee the collection of your bins.

                    Recycling bin – yellow lid

                    Residents are entitled to a 120-litre or 240-litre yellow lidded recycling bin, or larger equivalents for apartment buildings. You can upgrade your recycling bin to a 240 litre bin for free by submitting an online request or calling 9658 9658.

                    What can go into the recycling bin 

                    • Hard/rigid plastic bottles and containers 
                    • Paper and cardboard including clean pizza boxes (no waxed or greasy cardboard)
                    • Aluminium cans, foil (scrunch into a ball) and trays
                    • Steel cans
                    • Empty aerosol cans
                    • Glass bottles and jars (that have been containing food or drink)

                    Please put your recycling loose into the bin. Never put in plastic bags or tie up.

                    Ensure your bin lid is closed to prevent litter.

                    What can’t go into the recycling bin

                    • Soft plastics (for example, food wrappers, plastic bags, chip packets).
                    • Cling wrap
                    • Bagged garbage or bagged recycling
                    • Long life milk or juice cartons
                    • Nappies or nappy wipes
                    • Expanded polystyrene and foam (including meat trays)
                    • Window glass, glassware, mirrors, Pyrex and crockery
                    • Food or garden waste
                    • Textiles and clothing
                    • Batteries and electronic waste
                    • Syringes
                    • Waxed cardboard
                    Zoom in on your street on the waste collection map to find out whether you are in Recycling Area A or Recycling Area B, and check your recycling bin collection week on the corresponding calendar.

                    General waste bin (landfill) – red lid

                    ​All residents are entitled to a 120 litre landfill bin, or larger equivalents for apartment buildings. A 240 litre landfill bin is available in special circumstances and will usually incur an annual fee.

                    Please note: Some general waste (landfill) bins have older dark green lids. These will be updated to the industry standard red lids throughout 2024-25. 

                    What can go into the general waste bin 

                    • General rubbish
                    • Nappies (wrapped or bagged)
                    • Food waste - only if you do not have a food and garden waste service
                    • Polystyrene and foam (including meat trays)
                    • Plastic bags and soft plastics
                    • Window glass, glassware, mirrors, Pyrex and crockery.

                     What can’t go into the general waste bin

                    Any items that can be recycled in your yellow bin lid, in addition to:

                    Food and garden organics bin - lime green lid

                    A weekly food and garden organics collection is now provided to all households and low rise apartments.​​

                    See Food and garden organics service for further information, including:

                    • What can and can't go into the food and garden organics bin.
                    • How to obtain additional caddy liners.
                    • Frequently asked questions about the service.

                    Moving house

                    ​If you are moving house, please leave your garbage and recycling bin at the property for the next resident to use. All garbage and recycling bins belong to the City of Melbourne and carry a unique identity number registered against each address.

                    Other waste and recycling services

                    We also offer the following waste and recycling services for residents:

                    If you live in the central city, you can also freely access the 14 garbage compactors and recycling hubs which are located across the central city area.

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