Hard waste collection

Booked Hard Waste 

From 1 July the booked hard waste service is changing:

  • You can now book a collection for bulk cardboard or bundled branches PLUS
  • A paid hard waste option is available if you live in an apartment or need an extra collection. 

We have moved to a booked hard waste collection service. You must book to have your hard waste picked up.

Standard hard waste collection

If the waste charge is paid at your property you are entitled to a standard hard waste collection.

This can be either 2 booked collections of up to 1 cubic metre or 1 collection of 2 cubic metres per financial year. You can use a standard hard waste collection for hard waste, bulk cardboard or bundled branches.

Eligibility to book a standard hard waste collection

Residential properties

You are eligible to book a hard waste collection if the waste charge is paid at your property, either by you or your landlord, and you receive a Council kerbside waste collection service (i.e. if your bins have Council's logo on them).

The number of hard waste bookings per year are based on the property address. They are not based on the people living at the property.

This means that if you move into a property where the annual allocation has already been used, you will need to wait until the new financial year to access a standard hard waste collection. Or you can pay a fee for an additional collection.

Commercial and non-residential properties

You are eligible to book a hard waste collection if:

  • The waste charge is paid at your property, either by you or your landlord, and you receive a Council kerbside waste collection service (i.e. if your bins have Council's logo on them) AND
  • It is safe for you to place hard waste on your property frontage.

To be placed safely hard waste must not obstruct or hinder the use of any road or footpath. Properties in retail precincts are not entitled to the hard waste service if there is a lack of property frontage and ability to place waste safely.

Mixed-use sites

Where a development comprises both residential and commercial uses, both uses can book a collection if the waste charge is paid and Council bins are in use, and it is safe for them to place their hard waste on their property frontage.

If you're not sure call us on 9240 1111 to find out. You can find out more about the waste charge on our Understand your rates page.

How do I book a standard hard waste collection?

There are 2 ways you can book a standard hard waste collection:

1. Call WM Waste Management Services, our hard waste contractor, on 9721 1915; or

2. Use the online booking form.

Book a hard waste collection 

After your booking has been confirmed you will be sent a brochure explaining how and when to place your items on the nature strip as well as a sticker to place on your booked hard waste items.

Paid hard waste collection - NEW

From 1 July you can pay a fee to book a hard waste collection. You can use this option if:

  • you use a private waste collection service and do not pay the waste charge OR
  • you have used up your allocated hard waste collections (paid through your waste charge).

How much does a paid collection cost?

There are a number of paid collection options that you can choose from, these are:

  • $100 fee for 1 cubic metre of hard waste
  • $200 fee for 2 cubic metres of hard waste
  • $50 fee for 1 cubic metre of bulk cardboard
  • $55 fee for 1 cubic metre of bundled branches

How do I book a paid collection?

You can book a paid hard waste collection by calling Merri-bek City Council on 9240 1111 or by using an online booking form for the items you want collected.

How much waste can I put out for collection?

You will have 2 options for your booked collection depending on how much waste you need to dispose of.

You can book either 2 collections of up to 1 cubic metre of hard waste each financial year (July - June). This amount is approximately equal to the size of two washing machines placed side by side. Or, if you need a larger collection you can make a 'double booking' for up to 2 cubic metres.

If you book a 1 cubic metre collection but place more waste than this on your nature strip, we will collect up to two cubic metres of hard waste. We will count this as a 'double booking' and you will not be able to make a second booking for the year.

If you place more than 2 cubic metres out for collection we will leave waste in excess of 2 cubic metres and you will receive a knock back notice. You will need to remove and dispose of the remaining items.

When can I put my hard waste out for collection?

You can place your hard waste items neatly on your nature strip on the weekend before your collection week. 

All items must be out by 6am on the Monday morning of your collection week. 

Place any recyclable items in a separate pile.

All items must be less than 1.5 metres in length and able to be lifted by two people or they will not be collected.

Only place out items listed on this webpage or in you hard waste brochure. You must remove items not collected by the contractor within 24 hours of collection.

What can be put out for hard waste?

You can put the following items out for collection:

  • Old or broken furniture
  • Up to 10 pieces of timber (no longer than 1.5m)
  • Boxes of odds and ends
  • Porcelain, ceramics and window glass (please wrap and label 'glass')
  • Tools and lawn mowers
  • Large toys or sporting equipment
  • Mattress and bed base (one per household)
  • Whitegoods such as stoves, washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators. Always remove the doors from these appliances before putting them out for collection.
  • E-waste (any item with a plug, battery or cord). You can learn more about e-waste on our eWaste page.
  • Bulk carboard and bundled branches are now accepted. These items can be collected instead of other hard waste items. You must indicate on your booking form that you want a bulk cardboard or bundled branches collection.

How do I cancel a hard waste booking?

If you need to cancel or change your booking, please contact WM Waste Management on 9721 1915 (Monday to Friday during business hours) at least 48 hours before your booked collection week.

If you don't cancel your booking we will still apply it to your property. This means you will not be able to use your booking in future.

Consider donating your unwanted items

We encourage you to look for ways to donate your items before putting them in hard waste. You can find a list of places that accept donations in Merri-bek on our Recycling A to Z page

  • There are certain items that cannot go in your hard waste. If you put these items out with your hard waste we will not collect them and you will receive a knock-back notice. If you receive a knock-back notice you have 24 hours to remove the incorrect items from your hard waste. If you do not remove the items you may receive a fine.

    You cannot put the following items out for hard waste collection:

    • Asbestos
    • Syringes
    • Household chemicals
    • Pesticides
    • Automotive fluids
    • Fuels
    • Building/construction/renovation materials (cement sheeting, rubble, bricks, plasterboard and concrete)
    • Tyres
    • Car batteries
    • Large car parts
    • Paint
    • Motor oil and liquid wastes
    • Gas bottles
    • Household batteries
    • Waste from commercial and industrial operations
    • Household garbage
    • Household recycling 

    If you need to dispose of any of these items go to our Recycling A to Z page to find out where they will be accepted. Charges may apply for some services.

  • Hard waste items are either sent to landfill or recycled. Landfill harms the environment, so we want to reduce the amount of items that go there. Please consider whether you can donate, rehome or repair items before you put them out for collection. You can find a list of places that accept donations or collect them from your home on our Recycling A to Z page.

    We send mattresses and bed bases, white goods, scrap metal and e-waste to be recycled after we pick them up as hard waste.

    The following items are sent to landfill:

    • Household furniture 
    • Carpet and underlay
    • Timber (no longer than 1.5m)
    • Boxes of odds and ends
    • Porcelain, ceramics and window glass
    • Large toys or sporting equipment

  • Outside of a booked hard waste collection you cannot put your unwanted goods on the nature strip. This is illegal and you could receive a fine of up to $9,000.

    Your options for disposing of unwanted goods outside of booked collection periods are:

  • The hard waste service is no longer just for households, it is now available to residential properties, commercial properties and mixed-use sites, however eligibility criteria does apply.

    Residential properties:

    • Can book a standard hard waste collection if the waste charge is paid at the property, either by the resident or the landlord, and they receive a Council-provided kerbside waste collection service (i.e. the bins have Council’s logo on them).

    OR

    • Can pay a fee to have a booked hard waste collection if a private waste collection service is in use at the property (i.e. the bins do not have Council's logo on them).

    Commercial and non-residential properties:

    • Can book a standard hard waste collection if the waste charge is paid at the property, either by the resident or the landlord, and they receive a Council-provided kerbside waste collection service (i.e. the bins have Council’s logo on them)

    OR

    • Can pay a fee to have a booked hard waste collection if a private waste collection service is in use at the property (i.e. the bins do not have Council's logo on them).

    AND

    • It is safe for them to place their hard waste on their property frontage.

    To be safely placed hard waste must not obstruct or hinder the use of any road or footpath. Properties in retail precincts are not entitled to the hard waste service if there is a lack of property frontage and ability to place waste safely.

    Mixed-use sites:

    Where a development comprises both residential and commercial uses, both uses can book a collection if the waste charge is paid and Council bins are in use, and it is safe for them to place their hard waste on their property frontage.

  • If you put the wrong items out with your hard waste we will not collect them and you will receive a knock-back notice.

    If you receive a knock-back notice you have 24 hours to remove the incorrect items from your nature strip. If you do not remove the items you may receive a fine.

    If you put out more waste than you have booked for we will collect up to 2 cubic metres and count it as a double booking. You will not be able to make a second booking for the year.

    If you place more than 2 cubic metres out for collection we will leave waste in excess of 2 cubic metres and you will receive a knock back notice. You will need to remove and dispose of the remaining items.

  • Yes! People living in residential properties that use a private waste contractor (i.e. their bins do not have Council's logo on them) can pay a fee to book a Council hard waste collection.

  • We know some people in our community like being able to reuse and repurpose items by putting them out on the kerbside during hard waste collections in the hope that someone else will take them. Reusing items is a much better outcome than sending them to landfill, or even being recycled.

    Our preferred method for reuse is for items in good condition to be donated to charity or given away via one of the many online options available, such as Gumtree or Facebook / Hard Rubbish Rescue Groups. This ensures that items are not damaged and can be reused by others.

     

More information about the booked hard waste service can be found in our hard waste user guide (pdf 1.6MB).