Bins at units, townhouses and apartments

4-bin service for units, townhouses and apartments

We understand that not all households have space to store 4 bins. That’s why we providie a slightly different service to people living in units, townhouses and apartments across Merri-bek.

We trialled the 4-bin service with over 1,000 households to help shape how we deliver the service to households like yours.

Most people living in units, townhouses and apartments use shared bins

  • Shared bins are clearly signed and stored in a common area where all residents can use them
  • A lower waste charge applies where shared bins are used

Some households need to use a glass recycling drop-off point

  • Residents in certain developments or streets may need to take their glass bottles and jars to a glass recycling drop-off point
  • Affected residents have been notified
  • Glass recycling drop-off points are clearly signed and were installed in June 2023

Your service varies based on the number of households in your development

  • This applies to most townhouse developments or small unit blocks.

    Mixed recycling

    • You have your own 240 litre mixed recycling bin that is collected fortnightly.
    • This bin is to be stored on your own property. This creates space for shared glass recycling and food and garden organics bins in communal storage areas.

    Glass recycling

    • You have shared glass recycling bins that are collected every 4 weeks.
    • More shared glass recycling bins can be requested through your Owners Corporation if they are needed.

    Food and garden organics

    • You have shared food and garden organics bins that are collected weekly.
    • If you had your own light green-lidded bin for food and garden waste prior to 1 July 2024, you had the option to continue using this.

  • This applies to larger townhouse developments and medium-sized unit or apartment blocks.

    Mixed recycling

    • You have shared 240 litre mixed recycling bins that are collected fortnightly.
    • Households in some developments may have their own yellow-lidded bin for mixed recycling, which is stored on their property instead of in a communal area.

    Glass recycling

    • You have shared glass recycling bins that are collected every 4 weeks.
    • More shared glass recycling bins can be requested through your Owners Corporation if they are needed.

    Food and garden organics

    • You have shared food and garden organics bins that are collected weekly.
    • More shared glass recycling bins can be requested through your Owners Corporation if they are needed. You can request up to a maximum of 4 bins.
    • If you had your own light green-lidded bin for food and garden waste prior to 1 July 2024, you had the option to continue using this.

  • This applies to large apartment buildings or precinct developments using shared bins.

    Mixed recycling

    • You have shared mixed recycling bins that will continue to be collected weekly.
    • A weekly mixed recycling service is provided as these types of developments don't have enough space to store extra recycling bins.

    Glass recycling

    • You have shared glass recycling bins that are collected every 4 weeks.
    • More shared glass recycling bins can be requested through your Owners Corporation if they are needed.

    Food and garden organics

    • You have shared food and garden organics bins that are collected weekly.
    • More shared food and garden organics bins can be requested through your Owners Corporation if they are needed. Up to a maximum of 4 bins can be requested.
    • If you had your own light green-lidded bin for food and garden waste prior to 1 July 2024, you had the option to continue using this.

Support for households using shared bins

Changing the number and size of your bins

We can help by rearranging bins in stored areas, adjusting the size and number of bins, encouraging residents to move to shared bins for all waste streams and adding educational signage to help residents know what to put in each bin and where to store them.

If you would like to review how many shared bins you have at your property, your Owners Corporation or alternative representative can request a review. 
Download the form to request a review of your bins (doc 372kb)

Please email this form to waste@merri-bek.vic.gov.au. We will organise a site visit to review your property's waste needs.

Sustainability Victoria has made the Better Practice Guide for Waste Management and Recycling to improve waste management practices and increase recycling at properties that use shared bins. The guide helps architects, building designers, developers, building managers, planners and waste management officers to incorporate effective waste and recycling systems into all stages of a development’s life.

Bin-smart buildings eNewsletter

Sign up to our Bin-smart buildings eNews for regular news and updates on managing waste at units, townhouses and apartments. If you are a landlord, property manager or real estate agent, please share this information with the residents living in the properties you manage that use Council's kerbside waste service.

Subscribe to Bin-smart buildings

Bin signage to help you sort your waste and recycling

Use these posters in your bin storage areas to help everyone easily identify what you can put in each of your bins. 

Signs are available to download from our Conversations Merri-bek page or you can request them by emailing KerbsideWasteReform@merri-bek.vic.gov.au 

Tips for using shared bins

  • Store shared bins in a central area so that everyone can access them safely
  • Agree who will take the bins out for collection and bring them in each week
  • Make sure shared bins do not weigh more than 30kg and are not overfilled as we may not be able to collect them
  • Do not put large items in the bin or dump them in communal areas. You can book a hard waste collection.
  • Save space in your bins by flattening cardboard boxes and squashing plastic bottles and containers.
  • If you need to review the number of shared bins at your site, discuss this with your Owners Corporation before contacting Council for help.

Reducing household waste

Learn more about reducing household waste, including avoiding food waste on our Reducing waste webpage .

Private waste collection and recycling

Some apartment buildings have a private waste and recycling collection service. The items accepted by their recycling processors may be different to the items accepted in Merri-bek bins. Please check with your Owners Corporation for more information.