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                    Waste collector permits

                    All companies collecting waste or recycling from the central city must hold a waste collector permit.

                    Permit conditions support our central city waste laws and help minimise disturbance caused by late-night bin collection.

                    Find out more:

                    Central city and restricted access areas

                    The central city encompasses the area bounded by Spring Street to the east, Flinders Street to the south and Spencer Street to the west and along La Trobe, William and Peel streets to Victoria Street in the north.

                    Restricted access areas or 'hot spots' are areas within the central city where no waste collection ​is allowed between 11pm and 6am:

                    • Flinders Lane: Flinders Lane between Swanston Street and Mill Place, Cocker Alley, Monaghan Place, Scott Alley, Manchester Lane, Centre Place, Degraves Place, Lingham Lane, Rothsay Lane, Staughton Alley, Flinders Court, Bligh Place, Mill Place.
                    • Bank Place: Little Collins Street between Queen Street and Temple Court Place, Austral Lane, Bank Place, Roeszler Lane, Mitre Lane, Little Collins Street, Normanby Lane, New Chancery Lane, Temple Court Place.
                    • Finlay Alley: Finlay Alley, Hardware Street, CL0034 .

                    A map showing the central city, restricted access area hot spots and waste bin prescribed areas can be viewed below.

                    Apply for a waste collector permit

                    Before you apply

                    Permit holders are responsible for ensuring: 

                    • Waste collection in restricted access area ‘hot spots’ is limited to between 6am and 11pm. 
                    • All bins are returned to their original point of collection. 
                    • Wherever locks are available, bins are relocked following collection. 
                    • Bin information is kept up-to-date and provided to City of Melbourne on request. 

                    Review the waste collector permit conditions: 

                    Supporting documents

                    When you apply, you will need to: 

                    • Provide the registration numbers of all vehicles which your company will use to collect waste in the central city. 
                    • Upload a photograph of one of your waste collection vehicles, clearly showing your company logo.

                    Fees

                    No fees apply to waste collector permits. 

                    Permits are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. 

                    To start an application, you'll need to log in with your registered customer account. Find out more about how to register and log in.

                    Frequently asked questions

                    Information for waste collectors

                    What will happen if we do not obtain a permit, or breach permit conditions?

                    ​Any company collecting waste or recycling from the central city without a valid permit, or failing to meet the conditions of a waste collector permit risks fines of up to 20 penalty units per offence.

                    How do I replace an authorised vehicle or use a loan vehicle?

                    If you’ve replaced a vehicle, changed your vehicle registration or need to temporarily use a loan vehicle, you can manage your own permit to substitute authorised registrations as required: 

                    • Log in to City of Melbourne Services online
                    • Navigate to your waste collector permit. 
                    • Amend the permit by replacing one of the authorised registrations with an alternative registration. 
                    • Changes made to authorised registrations are not active until the following day. 

                    If you’ve purchased a new (additional) vehicle: 

                    • Existing permits do not support additional vehicles. 
                    • To obtain a permit for any additional vehicles, you need to apply for a new permit for those vehicles.

                    What information do we need to record in our bin database?

                    You must maintain a current database containing all the following information for every bin collected:

                    • a unique identifiable number, such as a serial number hot stamped on the bin
                    • the location where the bin is placed for collection
                    • the name, address and telephone number of the business which uses the bin
                    • the size of the bin
                    • whether the bin is for garbage or recycling.
                    • the frequency that each bin will be collected.

                    Do we need to provide a copy of our bin database to the City of Melbourne?

                    ​No. 

                    You are expected to maintain an up-to-date database of every bin you service in the central city. This will enable you to assist us if we contact you about an issue with a particular bin.

                    What information needs to be displayed on our bins?

                    All waste containers must be clearly labelled with: 

                    • your company name 
                    • address 
                    • phone number. 

                    This applies to any bin, skip, dumpster or cart your company uses to collect waste within the central city.

                    What information needs to be displayed on our trucks?

                    Vehicles your company uses to collect waste within the central city must be readily identifiable.

                    Every truck must be clearly labelled with your company logo and branding.

                    What will happen to our bins if they are not labelled properly?

                    We will remove bins found in public space which are not identifiable will be removed.

                    We may issue fines to the business using the bins.

                    Where are the designated areas where collection is restricted to between 6am and 11pm?

                    What happens to the information I provide to the City of Melbourne?

                    ​Any information you provide to the City of Melbourne in order to meet requirements under our local laws is confidential. 

                    We will only use this information internally and will not disclose it externally unless required by law.

                    More information is available in our Privacy Policy

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