Waste & recycling
How the City of Melbourne's household bins work. Collection days depend on your zone, from Monday (North Melbourne and Parkville) to Friday (Carlton, East Melbourne and the CBD). If you live in an apartment building, your building manager may look after the bins, and about 20% of ratepayers don't use the council's collection at all.
New to these terms? Read them in plain English
- Bulky / hard waste collection
- Pickup or drop-off for large items that don't fit in your bins.
Bin collection at a glance
- General waste (red lid, or older dark-green lid)
- Every weekResidents are entitled to a 120-litre bin, or larger shared bins in apartment buildings. The council says some general waste bins still have older dark-green lids, which will be replaced with red lids over time. Food waste goes in this bin only if you don't have a food and garden service.
- Recycling (yellow lid)
- Every 2 weeksWeekly for low-rise multi-unit properties with a communal food and garden service. Hard plastic bottles and containers, paper and cardboard, aluminium and steel cans, empty aerosols, and glass bottles and jars — loose, not bagged. You can upgrade to a 240-litre recycling bin for free.What goes in each bin →
- Food and garden organics (lime-green lid)
- Every week, where the service is availableThe council introduced this bin in June 2021 and says it is being rolled out in stages. The 2026–27 budget extends the service to high-rise apartment buildings.Food and garden service →
- Glass
- Glass bottles and jars go in the recycling binThe council's bin page lists no separate glass bin. Window glass, glassware, mirrors, Pyrex and crockery don't go in recycling.
- Hard waste
- 1 free collection a year (1 m³), by bookingOne free collection of up to one cubic metre per financial year for residents; dates open two months ahead. In a high-rise building, ask your building manager to book. Commercial and retail addresses aren't eligible.Book hard waste →
- Garden waste collection
- 1 free booked collection a month (up to 2 m³)Bundled garden waste on your suburb's collection day. Book by the Thursday before your collection weekend.Book garden waste →
- Drop-off
- Dynon Road Waste and Recycling CentreResidents can drop off kerbside recycling, garden waste (free, with proof of a City of Melbourne address) and e-waste. Charges may apply to hard waste.Drop-off centre →
- Find your bin day
- Collection-day map, or the 2026–27 calendar for Area A or Area BCheck your bin day →
We describe the bins the way the council does. The waste charge on your rates notice pays for these services (see Rates & fees). The state's standard lid colours are red for general rubbish, yellow for recycling, lime green for food and garden and purple for glass; the council's own page is what applies to your address.
Sources — check it yourself
- City of Melbourne — Bins and collections · Sep 2026
- City of Melbourne — Garden waste · Sep 2026
- City of Melbourne — Hard waste · Sep 2026
- City of Melbourne — Waste charge (incl. share of ratepayers not on the council service) · Sep 2026
- City of Melbourne — Budget 2026–27 (FOGO for high-rise apartments) · 2026–27
- Victorian Government — Standardising household recycling across Victoria (lid colours) · Sep 2026
Figures are current as at the dates shown and may change — always confirm with the linked source. See the notice at the bottom of the page for full details and how to report a correction.