Are you a resident of Melbourne and looking for tips on rubbish segregation and removal? Be informed and learn more about the services of the city council on rubbish collection and recycling. Ezy Skips is here to help you with all waste management needs.
As a resident of Melbourne, the City Council provides weekly garbage collection, where bins are collected from all types of properties, both residential and non-residential. All residents are also charged for this service, funding the collection, recycling and other waste collection services. As part of the service, residents receive a bin for rubbish and another for recyclable waste. Every area, depending on where the resident lives, receives a schedule when both bins are emptied.
As a major city, Melbourne produces a lot of waste, which is the reason why the Council recommends proper sorting of rubbish to recycle as much waste as possible. Here are some important tips for Melbourne residents on how they can manage their rubbish at home:
- Goes in the garbage bin – general rubbish; nappies (should be wrapped); food scraps, meat and bones (can also be composted); broken ceramics or glass; as well as plastic bags, take-away coffee cups or packaging; CD tapes and soft plastic like cling film. The Council requires that rubbish be wrapped or packed tightly to avoid mess or litter on windier days.
- Not allowed in the garbage bin – residents are requested to avoid dumping the following items in the garbage bin: hot liquid or ashes; oil; chemical waste like chemicals, paints, solvents, corrosive and flammable items; syringes (should be disposed separately); as well as recyclable items like car parts; soil, timber, bricks or other building materials; and hard plastic containers, among others (refer to the list of recyclable items).
- Goes in the recycling bin – paper and cardboard; aluminum, steel and empty aerosol cans; hard plastic like ice cream containers or take-away containers; milk and juice cartons; glass jars and bottles; pizza boxes; aluminum trays and foil; plastic toys; CD cases; steel pans and pots; as well as ink cartridges.
- Not allowed in the recycling bin – other than items mentioned above that go into the garbage bags, these items should also be disposed of separately (not in the garbage or recycling bins): batteries (considered electronic waste); waxed cardboard boxes; and all sorts of chemicals (see next tip).
- For special kinds of waste like chemicals and syringes, contact local representatives or look for special dumping sites where they receive such items.
- Electronic waste, or e-waste can be disposed of in different ways. First of all, the City of Melbourne organizes an e-waste recycling day where residents are able to drop off old electronics. Other tips include: sending old TVs and computers to The National Television and Computer Scheme; or leaving old mobile phones at specific drop-off points for recycling; Apple products can be recycled through their in-house recycling program. Printer cartridges can also be recycled, as well as old appliances can be donated to some organizations that can reuse and repair such items. Lastly, batteries can be dropped off at specific areas for recycling. For electronic items that are in good working condition, they can also be donated to others who may still have a use for them.
- For other household waste, consider composting. Items that were once part of a living thing can be used for composting. A good compost mix is one part of nitrogen to 20 parts carbon. Items high in carbon include: dry leaves; sawdust; shredded paper; wood ash; egg cartons; straw and dry grass. Those that are, however, high in nitrogen are: vegetable scraps; farm manure; fruit peelings; tea leaves; coffee grounds; fresh lawn cuttings or garden weeds and cut flowers. The following items are not recommended for composting: large branches; meat, fish or dairy products; bones, fats and oils; plastic, metal or glass; and pet droppings.
- Reuse what is still useful – Some items, like surprisingly old corks can be reused. Other things that can also be useful to other people include eyeglasses and furniture. There are websites or groups that receive items still useful and facilitate distribution to people who are in need of such items. Even plastic bags can be reused, either to be used in grocery shopping or to line rubbish bins. Before throwing away things, think twice! Older things like furniture or old appliances can even be resold for money.
As a resident of Melbourne, support the City’s initiatives to dispose of waste properly and recycle what can still be given new life by following these steps.