Laws for businesses
A clean and accessible city is good for businesses, residents and visitors. We all play a part in keeping the city clean.
All businesses (including residential building managers) within Melbourne’s central city must:
- Store bins inside.
- Return bins inside after collection.
- Keep bins clean.
Store bins inside
Bins must be stored within your property or premises.
You must not permanently store your bins in a street, in a laneway, on a footpath or at a collection site outside of collection hours. Permits are required for each bin collected from the public space.
Find out more about arranging a waste collection service for your business.
Apply for a waste bin permit
Return bins inside after collection
Bins must only be placed out on the street for collection.
Overnight collections:
- Bins can be placed out for collection from 6pm.
- Bins must be collected and returned inside your property before 10am the following day.
Daytime collections:
- Bins can be brought out for collection during business hours (7am to 7pm) but must be returned inside your property within 3 hours of collection.
If your collection has been missed:
- You must return your full bin inside your property and contact your waste provider to arrange another collection.
- Penalties apply for leaving your bins out on the street during the day.
Keep bins clean
All external surfaces of your bins need to be clean and free of visible food matter and other debris. We recommend you engage a bin cleaning company that operates in the city.
If you choose to wash your own bins, we encourage you to reuse old washing-up or mop water. All wash water must then be disposed of properly in your building’s wash bay or poured down a sink or a toilet on your property. It is an offence to pour soapy or contaminated water onto a street or down a stormwater drain.
Laws for waste collectors
Waste collection laws apply to some zones in the central city. Find out more about waste collector permits.
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