Green waste bins

Items that can go in the green waste bin

You can put plant material from your garden in your green waste bin, including:

  • Grass clippings 
  • Weeds (shake off the soil) 
  • Leaves and loose bark 
  • Palm fronds cut to fit in the bin - bent ones can block it from emptying. 
  • Prunings from shrubs and trees up to 10cm in diameter and 75 centimetres in length 
  • Shrubs (shake off the soil) 

Items that cannot go in the green waste bin

  • Plastic bags and other soft plastics 
  • Kitchen waste including fruit, vegetable and meat scraps 
  • Large logs, branches and tree stumps 
  • Soil, rocks or building materials 
  • Biodegradable or compostable bags 
  • Batteries or chemicals 
  • Anything that goes into your recycling bin 
  • Nappies (including compostable nappies) 
  • Plant pots 
  • Garden hoses or tools 
  • General waste 
  • Hazardous waste 
  • Animal droppings 
  • Treated, composite or painted timber 
  • Cardboard or paper 
  • Potting mix and ash 
  • Teabags

 

What goes in the green waste bin? Green bin explained video transcript

Top tips

  • Ensure that the lid of the bin is fully closed and green waste is not protruding out of the top. Overfull bins will not be collected.
  • Do not put green waste into bags. Items like plastic bags, boxes, general waste and soil will contaminate green waste, making it unsuitable for composting. If your green waste bin is contaminated, it may be removed from the property.
  • Be aware that damp grass can make a bin overweight even if the bin isn’t full. Your green waste bin will not be collected if it is too heavy or has the wrong materials inside.
    • Small size green waste bins can carry up to 40 kilograms
    • Standard size green waste bin can carry up to 70 kilograms
    • Large size green waste bins can carry up to 90 kilograms

You can take large volumes of green waste to one of our waste and recycling facilities for free (conditions apply, refer to our Waste fee schedule).

What happens to the green waste once it is collected?

The contents from the green waste bin will be delivered to a commercial composting facility. Several products are produced at the facilities, including: 

  • mulches
  • organic fertilisers
  • landscape soils
  • potting mixes
  • top dressing.

By using your green waste bin correctly, you are helping us reutilise garden waste, avoiding these going to landfill.

Related links

Back to top