The Hadfield and Brunswick/Brunswick West trial areas were chosen because they represent the Merri-bek community, while still meeting operational requirements for the trial.

Factors in choosing trial areas included the size of trial areas, collection routes, types of households and dwellings, and the community’s demographics.

Taking part in the trial is not optional. All households and non-residential properties with a Council waste service in the trial area will have their rubbish bin collected every 2 weeks.

We’re here to help though. Explore the Participant Hub or contact us on 9240 1111 for more information on how we can support you through the change.

The purpose of the trial is to test fortnightly rubbish collections in separate areas in the north and south of Merri-bek.

The results of the trial will help us design the best way to potentially introduce fortnightly rubbish collections to the rest of Merri-bek.

The trial starts on 1 July 2025.

Your first rubbish collection as part of the trial will be in the second week of July – the week commencing 7 July 2025 – on your usual collection day.

There will be no rubbish collection in the first week of July.

We will review the trial after 3 months. Fortnightly rubbish collections will continue in trial areas until Council decides on whether fortnightly collections will be rolled out for the wider Merri-bek community.

A Council decision on the future of fortnightly rubbish collections in Merri-bek is expected in December 2025.

3,000 properties are taking part in the trial across the 2 trial areas. These are mostly households, but also include some businesses, sports clubs and other venues in the trial areas that use Council’s waste service.

Trial households will not pay more for participating in the trial. These ratepayers will see a decrease in their general rubbish waste charge for being in the trial compared to households not in the trial.

There will be no changes to your collection day. Your bins will continue to be collected on the same day each week as they currently are.

Most households currently use the standard 80-litre rubbish bin. To help support the change in collection frequency, the new standard size rubbish bin will increase from an 80-litre to a 120-litre bin.

With food waste out of the rubbish bin and into the food and garden organics (FOGO) bin, a 120-litre bin should have enough space for 2 weeks worth of rubbish for most households.

Trial households will be able to choose to keep their smaller 80-litre rubbish bin, or get a bin larger than the standard 120-litre size, or an additional bin if they need it.

The rubbish bin sizes available in the trial areas will be:

• 80 litres
• 120 litres (new standard size)
• 240 litres
• 360 litres (a 240 litre bin and a 120 litre bin)

We will collect feedback from participants throughout the trial including through surveys, interviews and pop-up stalls in the trial areas.

You can also provide feedback via email wasteprojects@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

You will receive information in your mailbox at key times throughout the trial.

You can also opt-in to get regular email updates or text reminders on your mobile phone. Click here to sign up for updates.

It’s costing more to send waste to landfill, so reducing waste to landfill is more important than ever before. This trial aims to help keep landfill and collection costs low for the future, while also reducing the environmental impacts of food waste in landfill.

More than 20 Victorian councils already collect rubbish bins every 2 weeks. They’re sending less to landfill because people put their food scraps in the food and garden organics (FOGO) bin every week.

Their experience shows that making the switch to fortnightly rubbish collections reduces collection costs and encourages residents to put more food waste in their FOGO bin (which is collected weekly) instead of their rubbish bin. This is the last step to get even more food waste out of the red bin and into the green bin, where it can be turned into compost to help grow the food we eat.

There are many benefits to having fortnightly rubbish collections:

• Reduces food waste sent to landfill
• Saves ratepayers money over the long-term by reducing collection and landfill costs
• Creates more compost, a valuable resource that improves soil quality on farms and gardens across Victoria
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that are created when food waste breaks down in landfill
• One less bin on the street each week
• Aligns with our goals of towards zero carbon and towards zero waste to landfill by 2030

It costs more to send food waste to landfill than it does to turn it into compost. The more food waste our community puts in food and garden organics (FOGO) bins instead of rubbish bins, the less ratepayers will pay.

It also costs more to collect rubbish bins every week instead of every 2 weeks. We are only 1 of 3 Victorian councils (Melbourne and Yarra are the other 2) that currently collect both FOGO and rubbish bins every week.

25 Victorian councils already collect rubbish bins every 2 weeks. These are:

Victorian metropolitan councils:

• Banyule
• Bayside
• Boroondara
• Glen Eira
• Knox
• Manningham
• Monash
• Nillumbik
• Yarra Ranges

Victorian regional councils:

• Alpine Shire
• Bass Coast
• Benalla
• Bendigo
• Golden Plains
• Horsham
• Indigo
• Macedon
• Mildura
• Queenscliffe
• Shepparton
• Strathbogie
• Surf Coast
• Wangaratta
• Warrnambool
• Wodonga

The annual waste charge, paid by the ratepayer, is still calculated based on the size of the rubbish bin.

Properties in the trial areas will have a lower rubbish bin waste charge than those not in the trial.

The standard waste charge applies to standard sized bins. Most households currently have the standard 80-litre rubbish bin. We’ll upsize 80-litre rubbish bins to 120-litre bins, which is the new standard size for the trial.

Waste charges for the trial will be calculated as part of the annual budget cycle. Draft charges will be published in April 2025 and can be viewed on Conversations Merri-bek during the public consultation period.

The final waste charge will be confirmed in June 2025 as part of the annual budget process.

While we don’t know exact charges yet, we can provide estimated savings for trial participants based on the new standard bin size for the trial (120 litres).

It costs less to collect rubbish bins every week, and smaller bins have a lower waste charge than larger bins. So, depending on the size of a household’s rubbish bin, ratepayers will save between an estimated $30 to $65 on their general rubbish waste charge compared to households not in the trial.

For example, households that change from the current 80-litre standard rubbish bin to the new 120-litre standard rubbish bin will save more than $30 off their waste charge by being in the trial area with their rubbish bin collected every 2 weeks.

Households that keep their 80-litre rubbish bin will save more than $65 off their waste charge by being in the trial area with their rubbish bin collected every 2 weeks.

Even households currently with a 120-litre rubbish bin that choose to get a large 240-litre rubbish bin will see some savings on their general rubbish waste charge by being in the trial.

The waste charge pays for all the kerbside waste services Council provides. It is paid by ratepayers through an annual charge on Council rates. The waste charge does not generate additional revenue for Council.

It entitles all properties that pay the charge to food and garden organics (FOGO), general rubbish, mixed recycling and glass recycling kerbside bin collections and hard waste collections.

The waste charge covers:

• the collection, transportation, sorting and processing of waste and recycling
• the hard waste service
• waste education for our community
• administration costs to deliver these services, and
• the State Government waste levy.

Collecting your bins makes up the biggest cost paid for by your waste charge. This is followed by disposal and processing costs and the State Government waste levy.

To learn more about the waste charge visit our Understand your rates webpage

The waste levy is set by the Victorian Government. It increases every year and is charged per tonne of waste sent to landfill.

As all general rubbish is sent to landfill, this service is the most expensive to deliver.

The charge depends on the size of each of your bins. There is a higher charge for larger bins and a lower charge for smaller bins.

Reducing household waste and recycling can reduce the need for larger bins and help lower your waste charge.

The cost also depends on how often we collect each bin. Bins that are collected less frequently have a lower cost. For example, glass recycling bins are collected every 4 weeks, so this service has the lowest cost.

Where bins are shared (for example in a townhouse, unit or apartment block) the charge is lower for all users.

The waste charge is paid by ratepayers. It appears as 4 separate charges listed on your rates notices - one charge for each of our 4 waste streams (general rubbish, food and garden organics, mixed recycling and glass recycling).

In Merri-bek, we've had a waste charge for 28 years.

It used to appear as one line on your rates notice. Now each waste stream is listed separately. This makes it easier for you to see what you are paying for. While recycling and composting is cheaper than sending waste to landfill, there are still costs to provide these services.

We understand that all households are different. To support households with extra waste needs, we’re offering a concession on the waste charge. A concession entitles the following eligible households to a large bin at no extra cost:

• Households with 2 or more children in nappies
• Large families with 4 or more dependents
• People living with a medical condition or disability that creates a lot of extra waste
• Households experiencing financial hardship.

To find out more about concessions go to: conversations.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/rubbish-trial/concessions

You can apply for a concession online by completing the trial bin size application form. To access the online form go to: conversations.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/bin-size

Alternatively, you can contact us on 9240 1111 to process the application over the phone.

Unfortunately, nappies smell. But we’ve been looking at the experience of other households at councils that already have fortnightly rubbish collections.

We’ve found that councils already with fortnightly rubbish collections have reported households had no ongoing issues with nappies once the service change was established. Encouragingly, despite initial concerns, rubbish bins with disposable nappies were found to be no smellier when collected every 2 weeks.

Households in these council areas have been following these tips to help manage nappies in the rubbish bin:

• Firmly wrap nappies before placing in the rubbish bin
• Where possible, flush solids from the nappy (yes, we mean poo!) down the toilet
• Store your rubbish bin in the shade and out of direct sunlight
• Make sure your rubbish bin lid closes properly and there are no cracks in the bin sides.

Yes! We offer a discount of up to $100 each year for the purchase of cloth nappies and accessories to help households cut their waste. Find out more about our cloth nappy subsidy on our website: merri-bek.vic.gov.au/reducingwaste

Using cloth nappies can save space and reduce the smell in your rubbish bin. While the convenience of disposable nappies still wins out for many families, reusable modern cloth nappies have come a long way.

Whether using them sometimes or all the time, the environmental and cost savings of modern cloth nappies can be significant.

Unfortunately, bins smell. But experience of other households at councils that already have fortnightly rubbish collections have found that rubbish bins are no smellier when collected every 2 weeks.

Households in these council areas have been following these tips to help manage smell from their rubbish bins:

• Firmly bag or wrap pet poo and pet litter before placing in the rubbish bin
• Try using an odour-controlling cat litter
• Store your rubbish bin in the shade and out of direct sunlight
• Make sure your rubbish bin lid closes properly and there are no cracks in the bin sides.

We’re asking all residents, including those that rent their home, to select the bin size that meets the needs of their household.

However, as changes to your bin size affect the waste charge paid at your home, we will notify your landlord if there is a change to the size of your rubbish bin. Landlords will be advised that it is important that households have the bin size that meets their needs to prevent other issues such as overflowing bins, litter and contamination in other bins.

We have invited all residents, including those that rent their home, to select the bin size for the trial. Residents and tenants are in the best position to make a decision about the bin size that best meets the needs of their household. It is important that households have the bin size that meets their needs to prevent other issues such as overflowing bins, litter and contamination in other bins.

As changes to the bin size affect the waste charge paid at your property, we will let you know if there is a change to the size of your rubbish bin before the trial begins.

We will be contacting landlords by post in February and May 2025 with more information.

We have been working directly with residents, property manager and/or Owners Corporations to get the right bin set-up for people living in units, townhouses and apartments. We're reviewing the waste needs at these properties and are helping by:

• adjusting the size and number of bins each place has
• rearranging bin storage areas so that bins are accessible
• adding educational signage so that it is clear what goes in each bin.

If residents have their own individual rubbish bin, we can work with them to transition to shared rubbish bins and reduce their waste charge at the same time.

More information: conversations.merri-bek.vic.gov.au/shared-bins

Businesses in the trial area that pay the waste charge and access our standard service may find that fortnightly rubbish collections do not meet their needs.

Businesses are entitled to up to 360 litres of rubbish bin space (higher waste charge applies) to help with the change to fortnightly rubbish collections.

If you find the trial service doesn’t meet the needs of your business, you may choose to pay for more bins through our Commercial Plus fee-for-service or choose to use a private waste contractor.

You can find a private waste contractor visiting Planet Ark’s Business Recycling webpage: businessrecycling.com.au

You can place food scraps and leftovers in this bin along with your garden waste.

To learn how to use the service and what happens to your food and garden organics (FOGO) waste, refer to our FOGO user guide or explore this Question and answer library.

Most food scraps and garden waste can go in your FOGO bin including:

• fruit and vegetable scraps
• citrus, onions and garlic
• meat, bones and seafood scraps
• coffee grounds and loose leaf tea
• egg shells
• dairy products
• bread, pasta and cereal
• meal leftovers, including take away
• paper bag, paper towel or newspaper to line your kitchen caddy
• leaves, twigs and other garden waste
• grass clippings
• weeds, including noxious weeds.

Visit our A to Z guide to waste and recycling to look up specific items and find out which if they belong in your FOGO bin

The following items cannot go in your FOGO bin:

• compostable or biodegradable bags
• food or garden waste in plastic bags
• food packaging (including containers, cling wrap, ties and fruit stickers)
• coffee cups and disposable plates/cutlery
• tea bags (many have plastic in them)
• plant pots
• tree stumps, soil and ash
• kitty litter, dog or cat poo (they contain pathogens which can be harmful to human health)
• shredded paper.

Putting incorrect items in your recycling bin is called contamination. Contamination can be a safety hazard and makes it harder to turn your recycling into new things.

Find out more about contamination on our Recycle Right webpage.

Food scraps can smell as they break down and attract pests.

A few ways you can reduce the likelihood of your kitchen caddy smelling bad:

• Wrap food scraps or line your kitchen caddy with a brown paper bag, or 1 to 2 layers of newspaper or paper towel
• Empty your kitchen caddy regularly (every 2 to 3 days)
• Put food scraps in your caddy straightaway so flies and other pests don't land on them first
• Keep your kitchen caddy closed and don't overfill it
• Wash your caddy regularly - Council provided caddies are dishwasher safe
• Sprinkle bicarb soda (baking soda) in your kitchen caddy to absorb the smell

A few ways you can reduce the likelihood of your FOGO bin smelling bad:

• Put scraps like prawn shells and meat in your freezer, and transfer them to your FOGO bin close to your collection day
• Layer your food scraps between your garden waste
• Line the bottom of your FOGO bin with dry garden waste, leaves or twigs to stop food scraps sticking to the bin
• Sprinkle bicarb soda (baking soda) in your FOGO bin to absorb the smell
• Keep your bin in the shade (where possible) and don't overfill it
• Wash your bin out from time to time with a hose

If you don't already have a kitchen caddy to collect your food scraps before putting them in your FOGO bin, you can collect a complimentary caddy from a Customer Service Centre during the trial.

Alternatively you can use any container to collect your food scraps in your kitchen. This could be an ice cream or yoghurt container, or a store-bought caddy.

Our organics processor, Veolia, do not accept compostable bags of any type because they are a contamination risk if people use the wrong type of bag or put the wrong things inside.

The bags do not always breakdown fully in the rapid process used by Veolia, which means pieces of compostable bags can be seen in the compost and mulch products which is unwanted by farmers seeking high quality compost to use on their farms.

Bagged waste can also be a safety risk to people whose job it is to sort waste materials, particularly if incorrect or unsafe items are placed in the bag. In line with Veolia’s requirements, we ask that compostable bags are not used. Veolia service most Councils in the north-west region of Melbourne, so we are not alone in being not able to accept them.

Use a paper bag, paper towel or newspaper to line your kitchen caddy. Or put your food scraps in the FOGO bin loose.

Your food and garden organics (FOGO) waste is a valuable resource. The FOGO waste that we collect is turned into compost, which is used to enrich the soil at farms, parks and gardens.

Collected FOGO waste goes to the Veolia organics processing facility in Bulla, Victoria, where it takes only 6 to 10 days to be turned into soil conditioner and compost.

Watch our video below to learn more.