New kerbside bins FAQ

We're introducing new bins to most households across the municipality during July and August. You don't need to do anything - your bins will be replaced as part of our normal recycling collection. Simply put your bins out as usual. They'll be swapped over after your recycling is emptied. 

We've prepared some FAQs to help answer some common questions you may have. 

WHY ARE THE BINS BEING REPLACED?

We've had almost 1000 requests for bin replacements in the last year.

Most of our bins are nearly 20 years old. Even though some still look OK, many are breaking and will only get worse in coming years.

It's cheaper and easier to replace them in bulk, rather than deal with each one every time someone calls.

Rather than paying for it all at once, the cost to replace the bins is spread over the course of our current contract, which runs for almost a decade.

Our contractor also gives us a little bit of money back for each old bin we return, which we invest back into our waste services.

Councils that have done a bin replacement in the past have reported reductions in costs over the life of the bins and improved recycling rates overall.

It will also bring our bins in line with an Australian standard, which includes uniform colour coding of garbage and recycling bins.

This will make it easier for people to put the right things in the right bins, which is better for the environment and will help our waste cells last longer.

WHAT WILL THE NEW BINS LOOK LIKE?

The new bins will be black with a red lid for garbage and black with a yellow lid for recycling. This is a national standard.

HOW MANY BINS ARE BEING REPLACED?

We’re replacing 20,000 bins across the shire. This is just over half of all of the kerbside bins in the municipality.

WHEN WILL THE BINS BE REPLACED?

Over six weeks from Monday 9 July to Friday 17 August.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T PUT MY BINS OUT OR I FORGET AND MISS OUT?

We’re doing the replacement at the same time as your recycling collection over six weeks, starting on 9 July and finishing on 17 August. If you’ve missed out during that time, it’s ok. You can keep using your old bins. They will still be emptied as usual.

ARE THE NEW BINS SMALLER?

No. The new bins will be the same size as your existing bins. If you need an extra kerbside service or a larger bin, please contact our customer service team on 5734 6200. Please note, fees apply. For more information on a ordering a new bin please visit our waste and recycling page. 

HOW DO I GET MY NEW BINS?

Simply put your old bins out as normal and they will be replaced as part of your fortnightly recycling collection.  

WILL THERE BE ANY CHANGES TO COLLECTION TIMES?

The collection day will not change, however service times will vary during the rollout period. Please put your bins out the night before pickup. 

IS EVERYONE GETTING A NEW BIN?

No. We are unable to replace all bins within the shire as part of this program (there are around 17,000 garbage and 16,500 recycling kerbside bins throughout the shire), the waste management unit has put together a database of those properties where bins will be replaced. 

They have prioritised replacing bins in entire townships. Therefore, bins within all townships in the shire except for Wallan (a small number will be replaced in Wallan) and part of Beveridge (Mandalay) will be replaced. Some people along rural collection routes will also need to wait for a replacement. These areas will be the priority for future replacement programs.

I ALREADY HAVE A NEW BIN. WILL YOU STILL REPLACE IT?

No. Any properties that have an existing bin that complies with the new standard will not receive a new bin.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS INVOLVED?

The cost of replacing the bins is included in the waste service charges on your rates notices and is spread out over several years.

It’s important that we replace the bins now because they are getting old and the cost and time to deal with requests for replacement bins is increasing. It is easier, more efficient and more cost effective to replace the bins in bulk.

Council will also receive a small rebate for each bin collected, which is invested back into our waste services.

We hope that be making it simpler for people to put the right thing in the right bin (red lid = waste and yellow lid = recycling), our contamination rates will reduce and recycling rates will increase. Not only is this good for the environment, it can help keep costs down for our kerbside collection service. Recycling more and reducing contamination will help reduce cost pressures on our landfill and means our waste cells, which are quite expensive to build, will last longer.

WHAT ABOUT A GREEN WASTE KERBSIDE COLLECTION?

While we don’t currently offer a kerbside green waste collection, it's something we have identified as a longer term action in our waste management strategy

In the meantime, you can drop off green waste at one of our four Resource Recovery Centres (fees apply). 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE OLD BINS?

The old bins will be reused for street bins in places where there are bin enclosures or sent to an Australian recycling processor to be turned into resin which is used to make other products such as new wheelie bins and other moulded plastic products. The plastic is not stockpiled and will be re-used.

CAN I HAVE ONE OF THE OLD BINS?

While we understand the interest in this, unfortunately it could lead to people taking advantage of the system by using an extra kerbside service which they have not paid for.

WHAT CAN I PUT IN EACH BIN?

If your bin has a red lid, it is for household garbage.

If you bin has a yellow lid, it is for recycling.

To find information on what you can and can't recycle visit our Your Rubbish and Recycling page.

WHAT DO I DO IF MY BINS WERE REMOVED AND NOT REPLACED?

Bins that have been removed and not replaced as part of the bin replacement program are being dealt with as a priority. Please contact Council’s Customer Service Centre on (03) 5734 6200 to lodge your request or complaint.