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Bin collection
- General waste (red or dark-green lid) 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.
- Food and garden waste (lime-green lid) bins are collected weekly.
Recycling and general waste 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).
Waste collection calendar
The new 2024-25 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)
- 2024-2025 Waste calendar Recycling Area A (PDF 6.9 MB)
- 2024-2025 Waste calendar Recycling Area B (PDF 16.5 MB)
Collection days map
Select an area on the map below to see the collection day for that area.
| Waste collection zone | Suburbs included in the zone | Day of collection |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Melbourne and Parkville | Monday |
| 2 | South Yarra, Southbank, Melbourne, South Wharf, Docklands, Port Melbourne and Kensington | Tuesday |
| 3 | Carlton North, Carlton, North Melbourne and West Melbourne | Wednesday |
| 4 | Flemington, Kensington, North Melbourne and West Melbourne | Thursday |
| 5 | Carlton, East Melbourne and Melbourne | Friday |
Placing your bin out for collection
- Place bins out for collection between 6pm the night before collection and 6am on your bin collection day.
- Ensure that the bin lid is fully closed with no waste or recycling on top or beside it.
- Place bins 30cm apart and at least 1 metre from power poles and street signs.
- Ensure that your bins are returned to the property after collection.
If you live in an apartment building, your building manager may oversee the collection of your bins.
Bin sizes
- All residents are entitled to a 120-litre general waste (red lid) 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 bins have older dark green lids. These will be updated to the industry standard red lids throughout 2024-25.
- All residents are entitled to a 120-litre or 240-litre recycling (yellow lid) bin, or larger equivalents for apartment buildings. You can upgrade your recycling bin to a 240-litre bin for free by submitting an online requestOpens in new tab or calling 03 9658 9658.
Refer to our bin size guide (PDF 686 KB) for bin measurements. Bin sizes can also be found on the top rim of the bin body.
Moving house
If you are moving house, please leave your bins at the property for the next resident to use. All bins belong to the City of Melbourne and carry a unique identity number registered against each address.
What goes in each bin
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 contained 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.
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.
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 lid bin
- garden waste – cut it up small and put into your food and garden organics bin, book a free garden waste collection or take to the Citywide waste and recycling centre
- commercial quantities of food waste
- building material including bricks, concrete and timber
- liquid waste or ashes
- chemicals, paints, oils and solvents
- syringes
- car parts or motor oil
- batteries or other electronic waste
- unwrapped vacuum dust and polystyrene beads.
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.
Other waste and recycling services
We also offer the following waste and recycling services for residents:
- one free garden waste collection each month.
- one free hard waste collection per financial year.
Residents who live in the central city can also access 14 waste and recycling hubs.
Report issues
If there's a problem with your bin or your bin collection was missed, you can report it online. 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.
Missing, stolen or damaged bins will be repaired or replaced free of charge.
Report a missed collection, or lost or damaged bin
