Mahmoud with his partner and elderly parents

In March-April 2023, Mahmoud's family received a bigger 240 litre mixed recycling bin. This bin will be collected every 2 weeks from July 2023 and offers the same amount of space for recycling as Mahmoud's family currently has (120 litres per week).

A new 120 litre glass recycling bin will be delivered to Mahmoud’s home by the end of June 2023. This bin will be collected every 4 weeks (monthly) from 1 July 2023. Putting his family's glass bottles and jars in this bin will free up space in their mixed recycling bin.

If Mahmoud doesn't already have a food and garden organics bin (it used to be called the green waste bin), a 120 litre light green-lidded bin will be delivered to his home in June 2023. This bin will be collected weekly from 1 July 2023.

A kitchen caddy to collect food scraps will also be delivered to his home from July or August 2023.

Using this bin for food scraps and garden clippings will create more space in Mahmoud’s general rubbish bin.

There will be no change to Mahmoud’s general rubbish bin. His family will keep their current bin and it will continue to be collected every week.

As a ratepayer, Mahmoud could choose to pay for a bigger 120 litre or 240 litre general rubbish bin.

If Mahmoud's family needed more space for their recycling, he could pay to get a second 120 litre mixed recycling or glass recycling bin. He can also pay for a bigger 240 litre food and garden organics bin.

Requests for bigger bins can be made from August 2023.

The waste charge is based on the size of each bin - bigger bins cost more, smaller bins cost less.

To help free up space in their bins, Mahmoud and his family can:

  • Flatten cardboard boxes
  • Squash empty plastic bottles and containers
  • Put glass bottles and jars in their new glass recycling bin
  • Put all food scraps in their food and garden organics bin – including meat, seafood, bread and leftover
  • Compost at home - find out more about getting a discount on a home compost bin.

When the Victorian Government’s Container Deposit Scheme (“cash for cans”) is introduced in November 2023, Mahmoud's family can also take their plastic, aluminium and glass drink containers to a drop-off point for recycling and receive a cash refund. This will free up space in their glass and mixed recycling bins. More information on the Container Deposit Scheme can be found on the Victorian Government's website: vic.gov.au/container-deposit-scheme.

Mahmoud's family could also explore other ways to reduce their overall household waste, including being mindful of how they buy and consume products. Tips on how to avoid and reduce waste are available on our main website: