Hard Waste Collection:

Frequently Asked Questions

How often does Council provide a hard waste collection?

Council offers two hard waste collection services for Darebin residents - an area
based Winter hard waste collection and a limited number of booked Spring hard
waste collections. The Spring bookings help people like students who are moving at
that time of the year. The Spring limited hard waste collection books out quickly, so
you are advised to book early. See below for details.

What dates are the hard waste collections and how do I get one?
In 2014 the limited, pre-booked hard waste collection runs from 22nd September to
12th December. Bookings open 11 August and close as soon as all places are filled.
To book a collection, call Council on 8470 8888. There are Conditions of Collection
which must be adhered to.

In 2014, the annual area-based hard waste collection was held in May-June. The
2015 winter annual area-based hard waste collection will also be held between May
and June. Residents will be notified of the exact date a few weeks prior to the
collection.

Outside hard waste collection times, the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre accepts
most hard waste for reuse, recycling or safe disposal. Many items are accepted at no
charge. For more information call 9462 3455 or see Resource Recovery Centre (Tip).

What is the difference between the hard waste collections?

Both hard waste collections collect the same types of materials and have the same
types of restrictions on what can be collected.

A significant difference is that the Winter collection is organised for all residents while
the Spring collection offers a limited number collections and must be booked in
advance by residents. The Spring collection is useful for people like students, as
spring is the peak house-moving time for them.

What is the limited booked Spring hard waste collection?

The Spring booked hard waste collection has a limited number of pre-booked hard
waste collections offered between September and December each year. These are
only available for residents who have booked in advance by calling Council on 8470
8888.

As there are limited places available, residents are advised to book early as places
fill quickly. Residents are advised of the exact date of their collection at the time of
booking.

What is the annual Winter area-based hard waste collection?

Council organises one annual, area-based hard waste collection for all residents in
winter between May and June. Council sets the dates and the times for these and
collects from a whole area at the same time. Council will notify residents of the exact
date of their collection, a few weeks prior to collection.
 Hard Waste Collection:
Frequently Asked Questions

How much notice is given before a hard waste collection?

Residents are notified of their annual hard waste collection by mail a few weeks prior
to their collection date.

Residents are notified of the date of their booked collection at the time that they make
their booking.

How much hard waste can I put out?

Residents can place up to one cubic metre of hard waste for collection. All waste
must be no longer or wider than 1.5 metres and not too heavy for two people to
safely lift. Items must be able to be safely lifted and placed safely in the vehicle.
These limits are strictly adhered to.

Are hard waste collections available to all?

Hard waste collections are available to residential properties only. Businesses and
commercial premises must make their own arrangements for their hard waste. All
residents can have a Winter area based collection. The Spring collections are
available to a limited number of residents only. These must be booked.

Are there any conditions I have to follow to have a hard waste

collection?
Yes, there are a number of requirements to ensure that your hard waste is collected.
If these are not adhered to, some or all of your hard waste may not be collected and
fines may be imposed. To view the Conditions of Collection on the Darebin website.

When should I place my items for out for collection?

Items should be placed out on the Sunday before your hard waste collection.

Where should I place my items for collection?

Items must be placed in front of your property on the nature strip, separated into piles
of recyclable materials and non-recyclable.

What if I don’t have a nature strip?

If you do not have a nature strip please wait until as late as possible on the Sunday
before collection to put your material out. Place your items as close as possible to the
kerb. The best location is generally where you place your rubbish bins. Please try to
keep footpath access as clear as possible. Do not place items on the road. Items will
not be collected from inside property lines or in lane ways.

What if I live in a flat, unit or apartment?

Blocks of flats, units or apartments can also access the hard waste service the same
way as other residents. If you have a nature strip, place items on the nature strip. If
you don’t have a nature strip, place items as directed above, as close as possible to
the kerb. Items will not be collected from inside any property lines or in lane ways.
 Hard Waste Collection:
Frequently Asked Questions

Does Council provide skip bins?

No. Skip bins are not available from Council. If skip bins are required for other uses
they must be hired privately. Council will not empty skip bins or any other receptacles
as part of the hard waste collection. Check the yellow pages for details of skip bin
hire. If Skip Bins are stored on Council land a permit may be required.

Do you collect TV’s, computers and other electronic waste?

Televisions, computers and other electronic waste will be collected as part of this
collection. Please ensure these items are separated for recycling and glass is
unbroken.

These items can also be taken to the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre and
Televisions, Computers and computer accessories will be recycled for free. For more
information call 9462 3455 or see Resource Recovery Centre (Tip).

What items are acceptable?

Items accepted in the hard waste collection include:
 Household Furniture eg: Chairs, Tables, Cupboards, Couches,
Beds/Mattresses (one bed and base only)
 Stoves, Hot Water Services, Radios, Video Players, CD Players and DVD
Players
 Carpet, (one room only – 3 rolls maximum), Lino (small amounts),
Buckets, Washing Baskets, Bikes, Toys, Clothes
 Drinking Glasses & Crockery (wrapped and contained in a box), Nuts & Bolts
 Televisions and Computers
 Please place all smaller items in a box. (Plastic bags will not be collected)
 Tyres limit of four car tyres only – No 4WD or truck tyres

What items are not acceptable?

For environmental, health and safety reasons certain items cannot be collected.

Items not accepted in the hard waste collection may be eligible for recycling or
disposal at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre, Kurnai Ave, Reservoir. Call 9462
3455 for information on acceptable items and costs or see: Resource Recovery
Centre (Tip).

Items not accepted in the hard waste collection include:

No items longer than 1.5m (5ft) in length or width or too heavy for two
people to lift
Items must be able to be safely lifted and placed safely in the vehicle. These limits
are strictly adhered to.

No Fridges, Freezers, Washing Machines, Dishwashers or Clothes

Dryers
Call 1300 366 283 Phoenix - (Brotherhood of St Laurence) to arrange a free
collection – There is no limit to the amount of these white goods you can dispose of
through this service. For more information see: www.phoenixfridges.org.au
 Hard Waste Collection:
Frequently Asked Questions
No Green Waste eg. Tree Trunks, Branches, Grass, Flower Cuttings, Ivy,
Weeds or Prunings
If you have Branches, book a bundled branch collection by calling Council on 8470
8888. If you have Grass, Flower Cuttings or Prunings, these are able to be
composted at home or collected in Council’s Green Waste Recycling bins. If you
have Ivy or Weeds, these are able to be collected in Council’s Green Waste
Recycling bins. To organise a compost bin or Green Waste Recycling bin, call
Council on 8470 8888 (charges apply) or see Green Recycling.

No Tins of Paint
Tins of paint can be disposed of for free at Darebin Resource Recovery Centre.
EMPTY paint tins WITH LIDS REMOVED can be disposed of in your recycling bin.
For more information see Resource Recovery Centre (Tip).

No glass items eg. Windows, Mirrors, Shower Screens, Glass Doors

Reusable glass items may be accepted at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre.
For more information see Resource Recovery Centre (Tip). Small glass items can be
recycled in your household recycling bin. Broken glass items should be wrapped and
placed in your household waste bin.

No building, construction, demolition or renovation materials – including

but not limited to:
 NO Asbestos - Asbestos must be collected by an authorised contractor.
 NO Timber, Fence Palings or Fencing Materials
 NO Guttering or Tiles of any description
 NO Bricks, Concrete, Cement, Cement Sheets, Stone, Clay, Sand, Soil or
Stone Rubble
 NO Plaster, Doors, Window Frames or Clothes Lines
Other materials listed may be accepted by the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre.
Charges may apply for some items. For more information see Resource Recovery
Centre (Tip).

No oil of any type

Small amounts of cooking oil, motor oil or other waste oil can be disposed of for free
at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre. For more information see Resource
Recovery Centre (Tip).

No gas bottles of any description, fuel tanks, water tanks or petrol tanks
either whole or dismantled
These items pose a safety risk. A number of petrol stations who refill gas bottles will
also recycle them. Gas bottles and empty tanks are accepted at the Darebin
Resource Recovery Centre. Charges may apply. For more information Resource
Recovery Centre (Tip).

No 4WD or truck tyres

Maximum of four car tyres only permitted. 4WD and truck tyres are accepted by the
Darebin Resource Recovery Centre. Charges apply. For more information see
Resource Recovery Centre (Tip).
 Hard Waste Collection:
Frequently Asked Questions

No items that can be recycled in your household recycling bin

eg. Aluminium cans, steel cans, cardboard, plant pots, pots and pans, milk
containers, plastic toys, paper, glass containers or bottles. These items should all be
placed in your recycling bin. For more information on what you can place in your
recycling bin see Recycling.

No domestic waste of any kind

Domestic waste must be placed in your household waste bin.

No waste from industrial or commercial premises or businesses

operated from the home
The hard waste collection is for household hard waste only. Industrial, commercial or
business waste may be accepted by the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre or
through a privately arranged contractor. For more information see Resource
Recovery Centre (Tip).

No toxic chemicals, liquid waste, fertilisers, dangerous goods,

hazardous or offensive waste
Car and household batteries and light globes can be recycled for free at the Darebin
Resource Recovery Centre. For more information see Resource Recovery Centre
(Tip).
Free disposal is available for most household chemicals, liquid waste and fertilisers in
Reservoir on 13th December 2014 as part of Sustainability Victoria’s DeTox Your
Home Day. Register at: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/detoxyourhome . Registration
is essential. Other hazardous or offensive waste must be disposed of by authorised
means.

Will all my hard waste be collected on the same day?

It is likely that not all your hard waste will be collected from your nature strip on the
same day. A few different collections may occur to collect the different types of
materials over a few days. For example, metal may be collected separately from
furniture; televisions and computers may be collected separately from carpet.

All acceptable items will be removed from your nature strip by the end of the week,
but you must NOT add to your pile, once the collections have started.

If the items are unacceptable for collection, you will know this because you will have
a knock-back notice in your letter box explaining this. See “Why are some items not
accepted” below for more information on this.

Why are some items not accepted?

Some materials may be harmful to collectors and the environment, or may damage
the compactor on the truck. Collectors are also not licensed to handle some materials
like paint and asbestos. You must organise disposal of unacceptable items yourself.

Some Items not accepted in the hard waste collection may be eligible for recycling or
disposal at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre, Kurnai Ave, Reservoir. Call 9462
3455 for information on acceptable items and costs or see Resource Recovery
Centre (Tip).
 Hard Waste Collection:
Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if some items are not accepted? What should I do?
If your collection has taken place and you have items left-over, you will have received
a knock-back notice (in your letterbox). If this is the case, please read it and see what
issue has been identified. This will explain why items have been left and will often
identify how you can dispose of these safely.

If you have hard waste items that were not collected, it is your responsibility to
remove or arrange the removal of the waste in the time frame identified on the knock
back notice.

For items that pose a threat to public health or safety, immediate removal is required.
For other items, removal within seven days is required. These details will be included
in your knock back notice. You may be fined if you fail to comply with these
requirements.

Some Items not accepted in the hard waste collection may be eligible for recycling or
disposal at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre, Kurnai Ave, Reservoir. Call 9462
3455 for information on acceptable items and costs or see Resource Recovery
Centre (Tip).

How do I dispose of unacceptable items correctly?

Some Items not accepted in the hard waste collection may be eligible for recycling or
disposal at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre, Kurnai Ave, Reservoir. Call 9462
3455 for information on acceptable items and costs or see Resource Recovery
Centre (Tip).
See also Hard Waste Booked Collection for further information on disposal.

What if I am away when my collection occurs?

You are not required to be present for your collection as long as the material is
placed out for collection on the Sunday before your advised collection date. If you are
away and miss one of the collections, please note that there are two opportunities for
hard waste collections each year – Winter and Spring.

The Winter collection is provided to all residents. You will be notified of the exact
week a few weeks prior to collection. The Spring collection must be booked in
advance. Bookings for the 2014 Spring hard waste collection open on 11 August. As
limited numbers are available, you are advised to book in advance.

In addition, items may also be taken to the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre year
round for recycling and disposal. Many items can be recycled or disposed of for free.
For more information call 9462 3455 or see Resource Recovery Centre (Tip).

What happens to my hard waste after collection?

Mattresses, metals, tyres and some electronic waste will be collected separately and
taken to a recycling plant to be recycled. Other material collected will be taken to the
Darebin Resource Recovery centre where some reusable or recyclable material is
removed for reuse or recycling. All left over waste is disposed of at landfill. For more
information on recyclable and reusable materials see: Resource Recovery Centre
(Tip).
 Hard Waste Collection:
Frequently Asked Questions

Are there alternatives to the hard waste collection service that the
Council provides?
Yes. There are alternatives available for recycling.
 Whitegoods such as fridges, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers and
dishwashers can be collected free year round via the Phoenix Program. Call
1300 366 283 to arrange collection. For more information please see: Phoenix
Fridge Project: www.phoenixfridges.org.au
 Some Items not accepted in the hard waste collection may be eligible for
recycling or disposal at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre, Kurnai Ave,
Reservoir. Call 9462 3455 for information on acceptable items and costs or see
Resource Recovery Centre (Tip).
 The Outlook Market is a shop at the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre which
sells recycled goods and may also accept some used goods for resale. If your
goods are accepted there is no fee to drop them off. Items sold in the shop
include: furniture, timber, bricks and building material, clothes, toys and games,
tools, collectables, bric-a-brac, books and household items. Location and Hours
of the Outlook Market are the same as the Darebin Resource Recovery Centre.
For more information call 9462 3455 or see Resource Recovery Centre (Tip).
 There are many Charity Stores that will accept your hard waste if it is in reusable
or good condition too.

Does the hard waste collection affect my household waste, recycling or

green waste recycling collections?
Not in any way whatsoever. Waste, recycling and green waste recycling collections
will continue as normal.

I have noticed people going through other people’s hard waste.

Some companies and organisations are believed to collect (scavenge) from hard
waste collections. Please report professional scavenging to Council on 8470 8888.
Please note that neighbours at times take from each other’s piles with their approval
– this is not an issue and should not be reported to Council.

I have other questions about the hard waste collection, who should I
speak to?
Call Council Customer Service on 8470 8888 for further information. They will be
able to answer your enquiries or direct you to a relevant Officer.