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Recycling bin collection

Knox City Council has fortnightly recycling bin collections for reusable and recyclable materials.

Household recycling bins in Knox have a blue lid.

Public recycling bins around Knox have either a blue lid or yellow lid. In 2024, Council will start updating our public recycling bin lids to yellow to match with the Victorian standardised colours.

When to put your recycling bin out

Your bins are emptied on the same day each week, once a fortnight, including all public holidays. They should be placed at the collection point by 6am of your collection day.

Use our online tool to check when your household rubbish collection day is:

Find my bin day

Waste calendars

You can also download our waste calendars and view waste maps and zones of Knox:

What goes in your recycling bin

Put all recyclable items into your bin loose. They won't be sorted if packed in plastic bags.

Use your blue lid bin for:

  • wrapping paper made from paper and has no glitter on it
  • greeting cards and envelopes with or without a window
  • magazines and newspapers
  • egg cartons if they contain any stuck, broken egg-shell, put that part into the Food & Garden bin
  • pizza boxes - make sure they are completely empty and if more than two-thirds greasy, rip the box in half and put that half into your food and garden bin
  • paper and cardboard no need to take off tape or staples first
  • scrap paper
  • aluminum and steel aerosol cans only if completely empty
  • hard plastic packaging and emptied food containers e.g. any plastic that is rigid and holds its shape
  • aluminum baking trays empty, rinsed/unrinsed
  • aluminum foil empty, rinsed and scrunch into a loose ball
  • steel or aluminum cans and tins rinsed - lids can be put back into tin and top of can squished together
  • glass bottles and jars - lids off and place all loose into the recycling (empty, rinsed/unrinsed)
  • milk and juice cartons or bottles - squish, empty (rinsed/unrinsed)  bottles and then leave small lids on.
  • small plastic bottles - lids on, empty, rinsed and squashed.
  • plastic meat trays - cardboard ones must have any light plastic film removed first.

What doesn't go in your recycling bin

Do not use your blue lid bin for:

  • soft plastics
  • plastic bags - any recyclables in plastic bags will end up in landfill
  • general rubbish and waste
  • batteries - Bunnings, Coles, Woolworths and Officeworks collect batteries for recycling
  • take-away coffee cups - no lids or cups
  • nappies
  • polystyrene
  • polystyrene meat trays
  • green waste
  • e-waste and electrical items - check Knox Gate Prices at Knox Transfer Stations & Recycling Facilities - charges may apply
  • timber, bricks, rubble, steel or building materials
  • syringes - visit our Customer Service center for a free sharps container
  • hot ashes - must be completely cold before you put them in the bin
  • chemicals or hazardous waste - attend our annual, FREE, Detox Your Home Day to get rid of some of these items safely
  • fluids or liquids - check Knox Transfer Stations & Recycling Facilities - charges may apply.

Soft plastics

REDcycle's soft plastic recycling program is currently on pause. Please put all soft plastics in your household rubbish bin until further notice.

A-Z rubbish and recycling guide

View Council's guide to rubbish and recycling in Knox:

View A-Z rubbish and recycling guide

Putting your bins out

When putting your bins out:

  • put them out before 6 am on collection day
  • return them to your property within 24 hours
  • place bins at least 50 cm apart
  • face wheels and handles away from the kerb
  • leave 1-metre clearance from obstacles, including cars, trees and light poles
  • close lids completely to prevent animals accessing the bins, and the wind blowing litter into the street
  • don't overfill (max weight 50 kg)
  • don't place rubbish beside your bin
  • in a court, place bins along the straight section.
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Missed bin collection

If your bin isn't collected by 6 pm on collection day, report it within 36 hours.

Check your bin day before reporting a missed collection.

Report a missed bin collection

Or call us on 9298 8000.

We aim to collect reported missed bins within 2 business days.

If you find a sticker on your bin or a notice in your letterbox, follow the directions on the sticker or notice.

Report a bin issue

If a bin at your property has been damaged, stolen or gone missing, you can report it online. 

Tenants, property owners and real estate agents can make these reports. Bins will be replaced at no extra cost.

We aim to complete requests within 5 business days.

Damaged bin

Use the online form to report a damaged bin.

Report a damaged bin

Stolen or missing bin

If your bin has been stolen or gone missing, you can report it online.

Report a stolen or missing bin

Order new bins

If you are the owner of a new property or find that you need extra bins at your property, you can make these requests online.

Only property owners or real estate agents can make these requests. Tenants should contact their landlord or agent.

We aim to complete requests within 5 business days.

Request a new bin service

If you are the owner of a new property, you can request a new bin service using our online form. 

Request a new bin service (new property)

Fees and charges for this service can be found on our bin fees page.

To understand how requesting a new bin service will affect your rates as a property owner, visit our About your rates page.

Order extra bins

If you find that you need an extra bin, you can order one using our online form.

Before ordering an extra bin consider ways to reduce your waste:

  • Food scraps - put your food scraps into your food and garden waste bin which is collected weekly. Visit our Food and Garden page to see what can and can't go into your green bin.
  • Recycling - are you putting items in your rubbish bin that can actually go in your recycling bin? Check our A-Z rubbish and recycling guide to see what can go in your recycling bin.
  • Nappies - if you are using disposable nappies, you can swap out some or all for reusable nappies to reduce your waste. Or see if you are eligible for a free extra rubbish bin.
  • Pet waste - if you have a lot of pet waste, there are discounted pet poo composting options which will reduce your waste.
  • Packaging - what kind of packaging are you putting in your rubbish bin? This could be reduced by using reusable bags when shopping and purchasing items with less packaging. Read more tips on how to reduce your rubbish.

 

Order additional bins

For information on the fees and charges for this service, visit our bin fees page.

To understand how an additional bin will affect your rates as a property owner, visit our About your rates page.

Cancel a bin

If you find that there's a bin on your property that you no longer need or use, you can cancel your bin online.

Only property owners or real estate agents can make these requests. Tenants should contact their landlord or agent.

When cancelling a bin service, leave the empty bin out after collection. We'll collect it within 5 days.

Cancel a bin service

For information on the fees and charges for cancelling your bin, visit the bin fees page.

To understand how cancelling a bin service will affect your rates as a property owner, visit our About your rates page.

Request braille bin stickers

Braille bin stickers are available to residents who are blind or have low vision. 

Stickers are available for the following bin types:

Recycling
Rubbish
Food and Garden

Stickers can be collected from Council’s customer service desk or mailed out directly. Contact [email protected] to enquire.

E-waste

E-waste is anything that has a power cord, plug or batteries. Do not put e-waste in rubbish or recycling bins.

To find out more about e-waste visit our e-waste page.

Need help?

Contact us and we will get back to you.

Or call our Customer Service team on 9298 8000.

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