Collections DayCheck an address

Official council sources

Merri-bek City Council
bin guide

Use the red-lid bin for waste that cannot be reused or recycled, yellow for mixed recycling, purple for glass bottles and jars, and lime green for food and garden organics.

At a glance
  • General rubbish bin: Weekly for most properties. Some addresses are in a fortnightly rubbish trial, so check your address.
  • Mixed recycling bin: Every two weeks. Some large apartment buildings receive a weekly service.
  • Glass recycling bin: Every four weeks.
  • Food and garden organics bin: Weekly.

Sort it right

What goes in each bin

Use these rules for Council-provided bins. If your building uses a private service, check its signs or ask the service provider.

Red or dark green lid

General rubbish bin

Weekly for most properties. Some addresses are in a fortnightly rubbish trial, so check your address.

For household items that cannot be reused, recycled or composted through Merri-bek services.

Yes — place in this bin

  • Nappies and wet wipes
  • Broken glassware, crockery and mirrors — wrapped safely
  • Kitty litter and animal droppings
  • Unusable clothing, shoes and textiles

No — keep out of this bin

  • Batteries and e-waste
  • Food and garden organics
  • Household chemicals, oils, paints and solvents
  • Recyclable items, building rubble and loose ash
Check the full council guidance ↗

Yellow lid

Mixed recycling bin

Every two weeks. Some large apartment buildings receive a weekly service.

For empty household paper, cardboard, metal cans and accepted rigid plastic containers.

Yes — place in this bin

  • Paper, newspapers and magazines
  • Cardboard and clean pizza boxes
  • Plastic bottles and rigid containers
  • Steel and aluminium cans, plus aluminium foil

No — keep out of this bin

  • Glass bottles and jars — use the purple-lid bin
  • Plastic bags and soft plastics
  • Bagged recycling
  • Food, liquids and polystyrene
Check the full council guidance ↗

Purple lid

Glass recycling bin

Every four weeks.

For empty glass bottles and jars only.

Yes — place in this bin

  • Glass drink bottles
  • Glass food and condiment jars
  • Glass bottles and jars with lids firmly attached

No — keep out of this bin

  • Drinking glasses and ceramics
  • Mirrors and window glass
  • Glass cookware
  • Loose lids, plastic bags and boxed glass
Check the full council guidance ↗

Lime green lid

Food and garden organics bin

Weekly.

For loose food scraps and garden clippings that can be turned into compost.

Yes — place in this bin

  • Fruit and vegetable scraps
  • Meat, seafood, bones and meal leftovers
  • Bread, pasta, cereal, dairy and eggshells
  • Leaves, grass, weeds and small twigs

No — keep out of this bin

  • Plastic, compostable or biodegradable bags
  • Food packaging, ties and fruit stickers
  • Tea bags, coffee pods and coffee cups
  • Nappies, pet waste, soil and ash
Check the full council guidance ↗

Important rules

Use the service properly

  • Put recycling, glass and FOGO material in loose — never in plastic bags.
  • Empty containers and remove food packaging and fruit stickers before sorting.
  • No plastic or compostable plastic bags in the FOGO bin.
  • Put bins out by 5:30 am, facing the street, with at least 30 cm clear around each bin.
  • Keep bin lids closed; waste beside or on top of a bin will not be collected.

Common questions

Quick answers

Can meat and bones go in Merri-bek’s FOGO bin?
Yes. Meat, seafood, bones and meal leftovers can go in loose after all packaging is removed.
Can I use compostable bags in the FOGO bin?
No. Merri-bek does not accept plastic, compostable or biodegradable plastic bags in FOGO.
Does glass go in the yellow recycling bin?
No. Put empty glass bottles and jars in the separate purple-lid glass bin.

Also useful

More council waste services

Hard waste bookings

Eligible residential properties can book up to two cubic metres of hard waste collection each financial year.

View council information ↗

Waste A to Z

Check reuse, recycling and safe-disposal options before putting unusual items in a bin.

View council information ↗

Traceable information

Official council sources

Checked 29 July 2026. Collection arrangements can change after this date. Let us know if this is incorrect.

  1. Bins and collection services ↗Property-address collection calendar · Four-bin service
  2. Mixed recycling bins ↗Fortnightly mixed recycling · Accepted materials
  3. Food and garden organics bins ↗Weekly FOGO collection · Accepted materials · Kerbside placement
  4. Hard waste collection ↗Booked hard waste eligibility · Annual allocation
  5. General rubbish bin guidance ↗Accepted items · Excluded items · Collection frequency
  6. Glass recycling bin guidance ↗Accepted items · Excluded items · Collection frequency