Melbourne Councils Eye Fortnightly Rubbish Collection Amid Rising Costs and Mandates

Melbourne councils are increasingly anticipating a shift to fortnightly general rubbish collection. This move is driven by rising waste costs, pressing environmental concerns, and a new state government mandate for glass recycling bins. Currently, approximately one-third of Victoria's 79 councils already operate with fortnightly rubbish collection.

Merri-bek Council's Proposal

Merri-bek Council, located in Melbourne's north, plans to implement fortnightly general rubbish collection starting from mid-next year. This initiative aims to mitigate increases in ratepayers' waste charges, reduce landfill volume, and promote composting.

Under the proposal:

• The standard red lid rubbish bin would increase in capacity from 80 litres to 120 litres.
• Households with specific needs, such as those with multiple children in nappies, could receive larger bins at no additional cost.
• Collection frequencies for food and garden organics (FOGO) bins would remain weekly.

A trial conducted in three Merri-bek suburbs indicated a 19 percent reduction in landfill waste among participating households.

Merri-bek Mayor Nat Abboud stated that the council would finalize its plans in June, considering public feedback and trial outcomes.

Resident Feedback and Concerns

Some residents have expressed concerns regarding the proposed change. Joe Perri, a Fawkner resident, worries his family's landfill bin is often full even with existing recycling efforts. Danielle Polizzi of Coburg voiced concerns about potential increases in street rubbish, citing residents' reluctance to pay for tip access.

Conversely, Fawkner resident Georgia Koulis, living in a three-person household, reported that fortnightly collection would not pose a significant issue for her family, as their rubbish bin rarely fills completely.

State-wide Context and Financial Pressures

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and waste management expert Trevor Thornton predict that more councils will transition to fortnightly collections. This shift is primarily driven by financial imperatives, alongside environmental benefits.

Key factors contributing to rising waste costs include:

• A state waste levy increase of over 30 percent, reaching $169.79 per tonne for municipal waste by July 2025.
• Increased charges from tip operators as landfill space diminishes.
• Higher transport costs due to rising fuel and wage bills.

Thornton emphasized that diverting waste to recycling and green waste streams is a more cost-effective solution for councils and, subsequently, for ratepayers.

Glass Recycling Mandate

Victorian councils are mandated to roll out separate glass recycling bins by July 2027. This mandate has faced opposition from 35 councils, which advocate for an expanded container deposit scheme (CDS) as an alternative.

Modeling commissioned by some opposing councils estimated that glass bins would incur an additional $4 million annually in costs, translating to a $27 increase in household waste charges.

Whitehorse Mayor Kirsten Langford and Manningham Mayor Jim Grivas argued that an expanded container deposit scheme could achieve similar environmental impacts without substantial additional costs and challenges related to more bins, trucks, congestion, and potential contamination.

The Victorian government has invested $129 million to support the transition to the four-bin system, maintaining that collection frequency decisions rest with local councils.

Opposition local government spokeswoman Beverley McArthur stated that councils should be empowered to make decisions suited to their communities, warning that state mandates combined with cost-shifting could impact core services.