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Waste & recycling

Waste & recycling

Households on the council's kerbside service have two bins: a red-lid rubbish bin collected every week, and a yellow-lid recycling bin collected every second week on the same day. The service generally covers homes in township zones; homes outside them may be eligible depending on access, safety and distance from existing routes. The council doesn't currently collect food or garden waste. In August 2026 it decided to add a weekly food and garden organics (FOGO) bin and a glass drop-off network from July 2027. Put your bins out by 6am on collection day (the night before).

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.
See the full explainer, with formulas →

Bin collection at a glance

Rubbish (general waste)
Weekly — red lid (80 L or 140 L)The 80-litre bin is standard; you can swap to a 140-litre bin. Your bin size sets the waste charge on your rates notice (see Rates & fees).Residential bin collection →
Recycling
Fortnightly — yellow lid (240 L)Collected on the same day as your rubbish bin, every second week. Glass bottles and jars can still go in this bin for now. Extra recycling bins aren't available.What goes in your bins →
Food and garden waste
No kerbside collection until July 2027Until then the council encourages home composting and worm farming. You can take garden waste (not food) to the Castlemaine and Maldon transfer stations for a fee, which is waived during the council's free green waste periods.Food and garden waste →
From July 2027
FOGO bin weekly, rubbish fortnightly, glass to drop-off pointsApproved by the council in August 2026. Each household would get a 140-litre lime-green-lid FOGO bin and a kitchen caddy, collected weekly; the red-lid bin would go to fortnightly; the yellow-lid recycling bin stays the same but glass would go to about eight drop-off points, including the Castlemaine and Maldon transfer stations. Households that manage their food and garden waste at home or through a recognised community composting program will be able to apply to opt out of FOGO; the criteria, any rebate and the costs are still being worked out, with charges to be set in the 2027–28 budget.About the changes →
Hard rubbish
No kerbside hard rubbish collectionThe council says it looked at a service in 2023 and found it not viable because of the cost to households and the distances involved. Take large items to the Castlemaine or Maldon transfer station (fees apply).Hard rubbish →
Transfer stations (tips)
Castlemaine (Sluicers Rd) — every day 8am–4pm; Maldon (Morris St) — Wed and Fri 9.30am–1pm, Sat and Sun 9am–1pmBoth closed on Total Fire Ban days, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Good Friday. Maldon takes cash only. E-waste, motor oil and asbestos (booking required, small quantities) are taken at Castlemaine only. Glass bottles and jars go free of charge in the purple bins at both sites. Phone (03) 5471 1700.Hours and fees →
Find your bin day
Council address lookupMissed collection: wait until after noon on collection day before reporting it. Recycling is collected every second week, so check it's the right week first.Check your bin day →

The lid colours, sizes and frequencies above are as the council lists them for the current service. The July 2027 changes are the council's approved plan; their final details, including the drop-off locations, are still subject to contracts and community consultation.

Sources — check it yourself

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.