Commercial Kerbside Collection

How to get a new bin and collection guidelines

Commercial bins

How to get a bin

Commercial properties can apply for a kerbside collection service through Council at a cost as long as the waste produced is comparable to household waste (for example no medical, chemical or construction waste).  

Commercial properties will have access to the standard waste service which consists of two 240 litre bins, one for garbage and one for recyclables. Commercial properties can apply for additional bins through Council, with no limit on the number of bins permitted. 

Users are responsible for keeping their bins in good condition and may have to pay for replacement bins where a bin has been lost, stolen or damaged.

You can apply for a kerbside collection service through Council here. Please note:

  • The application approval will be subject to Council discretion.
  • A copy of the Occupancy Permit for any new dwelling must accompany the application form.
  • If the property is not sewered and has a Septic Tank System installed, a Certificate to Use the Septic Tank System must be obtained prior to any Occupancy Permit being granted.

Alternatively private waste companies may also be engaged for a range of waste services.

How to ensure your bin is picked up

  • Identify your bin pick-up day via the collection days schedule.
  • Only place bins that have a “Commercial Bin” sticker on them out for collection. The kerbside collection contractor will not collect a bin without this sticker. 
  • Place your bin out the night before your scheduled collection day. While Council and its contractor endeavour to maintain a consistent collection time, no guarantee is given that collection times will not change on the day. If your bin is not out for collection when the truck arrives, the truck will not return to collect a bin placed after collection. 
  • In some instances, Council may need to ask residents to place their bins in specific locations for collection. This can be on the opposite side of the road from the property or in a specific location that trucks can access safely.
Do
  • Place your closed bin with the handle facing towards your property, so the lid opens facing the road.
    Two bins side by side on a footpath in front of a fence
     
  • Allow half a metre between bins and other objects – for example trees, lights and power poles and parked vehicles.
  • Bring your bin back to your property when emptied.
Don't
  • Overfill the bin. Any bags or extra waste sitting beside the kerbside bins won't be collected.
  • Put HARD WASTE in your bins. Examples of hard waste include old tools, lawn mowers, refrigerators, timber, stoves, washing machines and other similar appliances, mattresses, electrical appliances, computers and TVs and old furniture. You can take your hard waste to the Rokewood Resource Recovery Centre.
  • Overload your bin as it will not be collected if it is too heavy. Your bin should not exceed 70kgs in weight. A good indication of if your bin is too heavy, is if you cannot easily move or wheel your bin out for collection. A sticker will be placed on the bin if it was too heavy for collection.
  • Put any weight such as bricks on top of bin lids.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I have a new business in the Shire, how do I get bins?

Commercial properties can apply for a kerbside collection service through Council at a cost or organise waste collection through a private contractor. 

Commercial properties will typically have two 240 litre bins, one for garbage and one for recyclables. Commercial properties can apply for additional bins through Council, with no limit on the number of bins permitted. 

Users are responsible for keeping their bins in good condition and may have to pay for replacement bins where a bin has been lost, stolen or damaged.

You can apply for a kerbside collection service through Council here. Please note that application approval will be subject to Council discretion.

 

My bins didn't get picked up... What do I do?

There are four key reasons why your bin might not have been picked up:

  • It was not out on the correct pick-up day. You can check your bin pick-up day via the collection days schedule.
  • Your bin was too heavy (more than 70 kgs).
  • Items in your bin were jammed and could not be tipped into the truck. 
  • Your bin could not be accessed due to an obstruction or incorrect bin placement. 
  • Your bin was contaminated. You can learn about what goes into your bins by reviewing the Waste Sorting Guide
  • Your bin is non-compliant.
What can I put into my recycling bin?

 YES  Green Tick

  • Empty rigid plastic containers
  • Empty plastic bottles
  • Empty plastic takeaway containers
  • Empty glass bottles and jars
  • Loose and dry paper and cardboard
  • Empty aerosols, steel and aluminium packaging, foil and foil trays

 NO  Red Cross

Incorrect items put in the recycling bin are called ‘contamination’. Examples of contaminants include: 

  • Bagged material in any type of plastic bag
  • Long-life milk and other various liquid cartons
  • Soft plastic packaging 
  • Polystyrene packaging
  • Large plastic items and plastic toys
  • Metal pots and pans
  • Nappies
  • Clothing and footwear
  • Food scraps
  • Hazardous chemicals and electronic waste

Please see Council’s Waste Sorting Guide, which provides greater detail around what can and what cannot go in your recycling or garbage bin in Golden Plains Shire.

What can I put into my garbage bin?

 YES  Green tick

  • General business waste
  • Wrapped broken glass
  • Crockery and ceramics
  • Wrapped nappies
  • Polystyrene in bags 
  • Food scraps (if not composting at your business)
  • Soft plastics

 NO  Red cross

  • Liquid waste
  • Electronic waste
  • Chemicals
  • Large, heavy objects that can damage collection equipment
  • Car batteries
  • Light globes and tubes
  • Concrete, bricks, asbestos, excavation material or building rubble
  • Hazardous or medical waste 
  • Hot ashes
  • Recyclable material

Please see Council’s Waste Sorting Guide, which provides greater detail around what can and what cannot go in your recycling or garbage bin in Golden Plains Shire.

What happens to my garbage and recycling?

All garbage collected by the waste collection service is sent to Smythesdale and Wyndham Landfills by Cleanaway.

All recycled waste collected by the recycling service is taken to the Victoria Commingled Resource Recovery (VCRR) Transfer Station in South Geelong, and bulk hauled to VCRR Material Recovery Facility in Laverton.

Will my business be impacted by the upcoming Victorian Government single-use plastic ban?

Yes, regulations have now been made to ban problematic single-use plastics from sale or supply in Victoria from 1 February 2023.

The ban applies to single-use plastic drinking straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers and cotton bud sticks made from conventional, degradable, and compostable plastics. The ban also applies to food service items and drink containers made from expanded polystyrene.

Businesses and organisations can prepare for the ban now by:

  • Determining if you still need to provide single-use items, and where use can be avoided or reduced
  • Ordering stock of any alternative items you will need ahead of the ban starting, to avoid supply issues
  • Running down stocks of banned items, and not ordering more.

You can read more about the ban here. If you need support, please contact Council's Customer Experience team.

How do I order or cancel an additional bin?

If you require an additional garbage or recycling bin, there is an additional rate for the additional service(s). 

Please complete the Application for Waste and recycling service 2023/2024 to proceed with your order.

To cancel a service, please contact Council's Customer Experience team.

My bin was lost, damaged or stolen… What do I do?

To report a damaged, lost or stolen bin, please contact Council’s Customer Service team to request for your bin to be repaired or replaced. 

If your lid has been damaged, please do not try to fix it. Contact Council’s Customer Service team to request for your lid to be replaced or repaired. 

Learn how you can contact Customer Service here.

I have a question about garbage or recycling. Who can I contact?

Please contact Council’s Customer Service team for all waste and recycling enquiries. For details on how to contact Council, click here.

Does Council collect hard waste?

Council does not collect hard waste. 

You can take your hard waste to any of the following waste transfer stations for a fee:

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