Changing the size of your bin
Garbage bin
Merri-bek residents are able to upsize or downsize their garbage bin.
An increase in garbage bin capacity results in an increase to your annual waste charge, which is included in your rates notice.
Garbage bins are available in three sizes: 80 litres, 120 litres and 240 litres. A combination of bin sizes is allowed with a maximum limit of 240 litres of garbage capacity per household.
If you change your bin size more than once a year, there is a bin changeover fee.
Before you consider upsizing your bin, think about reducing your waste by recycling, composting or ordering a food and garden organics bin if you don't already have one.
Owners that have applied for a change to their garbage bin will have the request processed within 5-7 business days. Continue to use your garbage bin and it will be scheduled the next business day after your weekly collection (scheduled 5am - 4pm). Residents that have requested a size change and provided a mobile number will be notified the evening before the job is scheduled.
Please place your current bin on the kerb and ensure the bin is empty, ready to be changed. If you are able to, please tip the bin over and place it upside down with the lid open.
General request to change garbage capacity
To request a change to your garbage capacity, complete and return to Council a:
Request for extra garbage bin for medical condition
If you, or someone living with you, has a medical condition that results in the need for extra garbage capacity, you may be eligible for a concession rate on an extra bin.
To apply, complete and return to Council a:
- Request for Concession - Increased Garbage Capacity (Medical Condition) form (DOC 106Kb)or
- Request for Concession - Increased Garbage Capacity (Medical Condition) form (PDF 300Kb)
Request for extra garbage bin for a large family
If you have a large family and produce more rubbish than you can fit into your existing garbage bin you may be eligible for a concession rate on an extra bin.
Concessions for large families are based on one or two parents and 6 immediate children living at home.
To apply, complete and return to Council a:
- Request for Concession - Increased Garbage Capacity (Large Family) form (DOC 110Kb)or
- Request for Concession - Increased Garbage Capacity (Large Family) form (PDF 301Kb).
Recycling bin
If you find you have more recycling than will fit in your recycling bin each week, Council will consider providing a larger or additional recycling bin. To save space in your recycling bin fold down and compact recyclable material before it goes into your bin. Information on drop off points for household recyclables is available on the recycling points page of our website.
Residents that have requested to have their recycle bin changed are processed within 5-7 business days. Continue to use your recycle bin and it will be scheduled the next business day after your weekly collection (scheduled 5am - 4pm). Owners that have requested a size change and provided a mobile number will be notified the evening before the job is scheduled.
Please place your current bin on the kerb and ensure the bin is empty, ready to be changed. If you are able to, please tip the bin over and place it upside down with the lid open.
Before you contact Council, look at what you are putting in your recycling bin:
- Check that everything in your recycling bin is recyclable.
- See if there are items you can flatten, like cardboard boxes or cans, to take up less space.
- Consider ways to avoid waste in the first place, by buying products in bulk, reusing or refilling containers, and buying concentrated cleaning products rather than ready-made items.
If you still find you need additional recycling capacity, complete and return to Council an:
- Application for Increased Recycling Capacity form (DOC 57Kb)or
- Application for Increased Recycling Capacity form (PDF 536Kb)
Requests are considered on a case by case basis.
Food and garden organics bin
Upsizing your 120 litre organics bin (formerly green waste bin) is only recommended if your household already creates enough garden organics to fill your bin each fortnight. Residents can have a maximum capacity of 240 litres for food and garden organics, however upsizes are strongly discouraged if additional space is not required. To reduce your food and garden organic waste consider using a compost bin or worm farm, to order one please go to the composting bins page of our website.
If you already have a 120 litre organics bin at your property, but require extra space for your food scraps, you can upsize your bin by clicking on the link in the Food and Garden Organics Collection Service page, under ordering a new food and organics bin.
Residents that have applied to change the size of their food and garden organics bin will be notified the day before the scheduled change in a text to your mobile. The change will be coordinated 1-2 business days after your fortnightly collection. Continue to use your bin until that time. Due to high volumes it will take 1 to 6 weeks for your request to be processed.