The 4-bin service for townhouses, units and apartments will vary based on the number of households in a development. Malina lives in a townhouse development with 6 townhouses.
Developments with 4-9 households:
Malina will have her own 240 litre mixed recycling bin. This bin will be collected every 2 weeks from July 2023.
This bin is to be stored on Malina's property. This will create space for shared glass recycling and food and garden organics bins in communal storage areas.
Additional bins were delivered in March-April 2023 so that every townhouse in Malina's development now has their own 240 litre mixed recycling bin.
The new 240 litre mixed recycling bins are to be used as well as the existing green-bodied 240 litre recycling bins. They are extra recycling bins, not replacement bins.
Malina will use a shared glass recycling bin which will be collected every 4 weeks (monthly) from 1 July 2023.
A 120 litre purple-lidded glass recycling bin will be delivered to Malina's townhouse development in April-May 2023.
This bin is for glass bottles and jars.
Additional shared glass recycling bins can be requested through her Owners Corporation from August.
Malina will use shared food and garden organics bins which will be collected weekly.
As there isn't a food and garden organics bin at her townhouse development yet, a 240 litre light green-lidded bin will delivered in May or June 2023. This is to be stored in a communal area for all residents to use.
A kitchen caddy to collect food scraps will be delivered to Malina and each of the townhouses in her development from July 2023.
Additional shared food and garden organics bins can be requested through her Owners Corporation from August.
There will be no change to Malina's general rubbish bin. Malina will continue to use the bins she currently has, whether they are shared or she has her own. They will continue to be collected every week.
Shared bins are used by all residents living in a development or building. They are clearly signed and stored in a common area where all residents can access them. A lower waste charge applies where shared bins are used.
If you would like to review how many shared bins you have at your development, your Owners Corporation, or alternative representative, may request a review. Please email us at waste@merri-bek.vic.gov.au with your request. We will organise a site visit to review your development’s waste needs.
If you want to change the size of one of your own individual bins, and not a shared bin, you can do so from August 2023. This will affect your waste charge. Smaller bins cost less and larger bins cost more.
To help free up space in their bins, Malina and others in her townhouse development 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 leftovers
When the Victorian Government’s Container Deposit Scheme (“cash for cans”) is introduced in November 2023, Malina can take certain plastic, metal and glass drink containers to a drop-off point for recycling and receive a cash refund. More information on the Container Deposit Scheme can be found on the Victorian Government's website: vic.gov.au/container-deposit-scheme.
There are many other ways Malina and her neighbours can explore to reduce their overall household waste, including being mindful of what they buy. Tips on how to avoid and reduce waste are available on our main website:
