Bins at businesses

4-bin service for businesses

Merri-bek's 4-bin waste service started in July 2023.

Businesses that pay the waste charge and use Council’s standard commercial waste service have received a 240 litre mixed recycling bin and a new purple-lidded glass recycling bin. Businesses can opt in to the food and garden organics service.

Why are our bins changing?

The Victorian Government is standardising household waste and recycling services across the state. All Victorian council kerbside services will move to a 4-bin system. The new system will improve recycling and reduce waste going to landfill.

Mixed recycling

In March-April 2023, your business received a bigger 240 litre mixed recycling bin, unless you already had one. If your business already had a 240 litre mixed recycling bin, there was no change to your bin.

This bin is collected every 2 weeks.

Glass recycling

Your new 120 litre glass recycling bin has been delivered to your business for glass bottles and jars. This bin is collected every 4 weeks (monthly).

If your business does not generate any glass recycling, please call our Customer Service team on 9240 1111.

Food and garden organics

Businesses can opt in to the food and garden organics service. This bin is collected every week.

From July, there will be a charge for the service.

If your business generates food or garden waste, you can choose to get a food and garden organics bin. You can order a bin by going to merri-bek.vic.gov.au/foodandgarden and clicking on “Order a FOGO bin”.

If your business doesn't need one, you can choose not to get a food and garden organics bin and your business won't be charged for it.

General rubbish

There has been no change to the general rubbish bin at your business. You will keep the current bin and it will continue to be collected every week.

Can I get bigger bins for my business?

From August 2023, you can get an additional 120 litre mixed recycling bin to help with extra cardboard recycling. You can also increase the size of your general rubbish bin to 240 litres if your business needs it. 

If you request an additional 120 litre mixed recycling bin or a bigger rubbish bin, your waste charge will increase.

What if Council's waste service doesn't meet my needs?

If our standard service can't meet the demand of your business, you can use Council’s Commercial Plus fee-for-service and pay for more bins. Otherwise, you will need to use a private waste contractor.

More information on our new 4-bin service

For more information on how the new 4-bin service affects your business or household, please visit our new 4-bin service page on Conversations Merri-bek.

Update your knowledge today. Learn how you can reduce your waste and check that you are sorting your waste correctly.