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Waste & recycling

Waste & recycling

How Nillumbik's household bins work today. The standard service for most homes is three bins: a food and garden waste bin with a green lid, collected every week; a mixed recycling bin with a yellow lid, collected every fortnight; and a landfill bin with a red lid, also collected every fortnight. The yellow and red bins go out on alternate weeks. Glass goes in the recycling bin. The council collects from residential properties only.

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

Food and garden waste (green lid)
WeeklyThe standard bin is 120 litres; a 240-litre bin is available. Food scraps and garden materials go in, and the contents are composted.Our bin service →
Mixed recycling (yellow lid)
FortnightlyA 240-litre bin (the only size). Most hard plastics, cardboard, paper, cans and glass.What goes in each bin →
Landfill (red lid)
FortnightlyThe standard bin is 120 litres; 80-litre and 140-litre bins are also offered, and each option has its own annual waste charge on the rates notice.Bin sizes →
Glass
No separate glass bin — glass goes in recyclingThe council says the Victorian Government requires councils to offer a separate glass-only kerbside service by July 2027. Nillumbik has joined a group of councils in the 'Let's Be Clear on Glass' campaign, asking the state to pause that mandate and expand the Container Deposit Scheme to glass wine and spirit bottles. The council says a dedicated glass service would cost it about $1.5 million to set up and about $500,000 a year to run. That is the council's stated position.Council's glass position →
Booked hard waste collection
1 free collection per financial year, up to 2 m³Booked with the council's contractor, WM Waste Management Services (online or 9433 3512). Unused collections don't roll over. Extra collections cost $153.60, plus $27.90 per mattress or bed base (prices from 1 August 2026). Items such as green waste, building waste, tyres, batteries and household garbage aren't collected.Book hard waste →
Nillumbik Recycling Centre
290 Yan Yean Road, Plenty — Friday to Monday, 8am–4pmClosed Tuesday to Thursday and on public holidays, and it may close in high wind or heat, so check the council's page before you go. Fees apply for some items, with discounted rates for Nillumbik residents. Your rates notice includes a voucher for three green waste drop-offs (up to 1 m³ each).Recycling Centre →
Find your bin day
Council address search and 2026–27 bin calendarPut bins out by 6am on collection day. Missed bin? Report it by 2pm on the second business day after your collection day.Check your bin day →

Lid colours and frequencies above are the council's own description of its bins. The standard service costs $708.86 in 2026–27 (Waste Management Charge, paid with your rates; see 'Rates & fees'). The glass-bin costs quoted are the council's own figures from its April 2026 statement.

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.