The 4-bin service for townhouses, units and apartments will vary based on the number of households in a development. Melissa lives in unit block with 15 units.
Developments with 10 to 19 households:
Melissa will use shared 240 litre mixed recycling bins. These bins will be collected every 2 weeks from July 2023.
Additional shared bins were delivered in March-April 2023. These bins are to be stored in a common area for all residents to use.
Some people living in unit blocks have their own yellow-lidded bin for mixed recycling. If this is the case, unlike Melissa, you will continue to use your own bin and get a larger 240 litre bin for your household.
Melissa will use shared glass recycling bins which will be collected every 4 weeks (monthly) from 1 July 2023.
Two 120 litre purple-lidded glass recycling bins were delivered to Melissa's unit block in May-June 2023.
These bins are for glass bottles and jars.
Additional shared glass recycling bins can be requested through her Owners Corporation from August.
Melissa 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 unit block yet, a 120 litre light green-lidded bin will delivered in 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 units in her block from July 2023.
Additional shared food and garden organics bins can be requested through her Owners Corporation from August.
Some people living in unit blocks already have their own light green-lidded bin for food and garden waste. If this is the case, you can continue to use your own bin.
There will be no change to Melissa's general rubbish bin. Melissa 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, Melissa and others in her unit block 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, Melissa 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 Melissa 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:
