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Council bin guide

Surf Coast Shire Council
bin guide

Surf Coast separates landfill, mixed recycling, glass bottles and jars, and food-and-garden organics across four bins. Rural service and FOGO frequency differ from urban areas.

At a glance
  • Mixed recycling bin: Fortnightly in urban and rural service areas.
  • Food and garden organics bin: Weekly in urban areas; fortnightly in rural service areas.
  • Glass-only bin: Check the exact address calendar.

Sort it right

What goes in each bin

These rules are for council bins. If your building uses a private bin service, check its signs or ask the provider.

Yellow lid

Mixed recycling bin

Fortnightly in urban and rural service areas.

For accepted paper, cardboard, rigid plastic and metal packaging; bottles and jars use the separate glass bin.

Yes — place in this bin

  • Clean, dry paper and cardboard
  • Accepted rigid plastic bottles and containers
  • Steel tins
  • Aluminium cans and foil

No — keep out of this bin

  • Glass bottles and jars
  • Plastic bags and soft plastics
  • Batteries and e-waste
  • Crockery and cutlery
Check the full council guidance ↗

Lime green lid

Food and garden organics bin

Weekly in urban areas; fortnightly in rural service areas.

For food scraps, leftovers and accepted garden material.

Yes — place in this bin

  • Fruit, vegetables and leftovers
  • Meat, dairy and bones
  • Grass, leaves and small branches
  • Loose food and garden organics

No — keep out of this bin

  • Plastic bags
  • Pet waste and nappies
  • Garden pots and treated timber
  • General waste and recycling
Check the full council guidance ↗

Purple lid

Glass-only bin

Check the exact address calendar.

For glass bottles and jars separated from mixed recycling.

Yes — place in this bin

  • Beer and wine bottles
  • Food jars
  • Medicine bottles
  • Other empty glass bottles and jars

No — keep out of this bin

  • Drinking glasses
  • Mirrors and window glass
  • Crockery and ceramics
  • Light globes
Check the full council guidance ↗

Important rules

Local bin rules

  • Keep mixed recycling loose and scrape containers clean.
  • Remove glass from the yellow bin and use the purple bin.
  • Only Council-approved AS 4736 compostable liners are accepted in FOGO.
  • Put bins out the night before or before 5:30 am.
  • Rural properties must opt in to receive the four-bin service.

Common questions

Quick answers

Does glass go in Surf Coast’s yellow bin?
No. Put glass bottles and jars in the purple-lid glass-only bin.
Is FOGO weekly everywhere?
No. It is weekly in urban areas and fortnightly in rural service areas.
Is rural kerbside collection automatic?
No. Council describes rural kerbside service as optional.

Also useful

More council waste services

Kerbside service FAQs

Check address calendars, bin placement and rural service rules.

View council information ↗

Looking elsewhere?

Other Victoria council areas

Choose another council page, or browse all supported council areas.

Where this comes from

Council sources

Last checked 29 July 2026. Council information can change. Spot a mistake?

  1. Bin collection information ↗
  2. Recycling bin ↗
  3. FOGO bin ↗
  4. Kerbside bins ↗