We’ve listened to community feedback that we need to take this step. Many households using the food and green waste service report that their general waste bins are half empty, but their food and green waste bins are full.

Since the introduction of food and green waste recycling, Bayside’s landfill waste has dropped to the lowest levels on record.

At the same time, we’re finding that some households are recycling only part of their food waste and putting the rest into the general waste bin (food is still 36% of the bin contents). This is partly due to concerns about smelly food sitting in the bin for 2 weeks between collections.

Changing the bin collections frequency will encourage food and green waste recycling service users to put more of their food waste in that bin. We are also aiming to encourage those not already using the service to sign up before 1 July 2022.

Reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill is important for our resident’s hip pockets as landfills are filling up and costs are rising. Waste costs are passed on directly to ratepayers and this year, the Victorian Government landfill levy is increasing by 60%.

A reduction in food going into landfill is also great for the environment as decomposing food waste creates methane, a damaging greenhouse gas.

No. Bayside’s kerbside bin collection contracts expire on 30 June 2022 and we need to establish new contracts to serve Bayside for the next ten years.

The change is also part of our response to the Climate Emergency and commitment to do more to reduce Bayside’s carbon emissions. Reducing the amount of waste the Bayside community sends to landfill is an important element of this commitment.

We are asking the community for feedback on how we can support our residents through the change and what additional support do we need to offer to groups who may have particular waste needs.

For the 83% of Bayside households using the food and green waste service, the total number of waste collections will remain the same. As food and green waste bins are generally larger than general waste bins, these residents will actually increase their weekly waste capacity.

For residents who are not using the food and green waste recycling service, we strongly encourage you to consider getting on board. Our community consultation is aimed at understanding any barriers to using the service so we can address this.

In terms of waste charges, these are separate to your annual rates charges and itemised on your rates notice. Waste costs are passed on directly to ratepayers and this year the Victorian Government landfill levy is increasing by 60%. We expect similar future increases as tips are filling up and very few new landfill sites are available or being approved by the state government.

The change to collections frequency is therefore aimed at encouraging more recycling of food waste in order to further reduce our landfill volumes and safeguard residents from future cost increases. It will not mean a reduction in waste charges passed onto residents as charges to dispose of waste continue to rise.

All current users of the food and green waste service have paid a one off charge for their food and green waste bin, kitchen caddy and compostable bags. This charge covers the cost of getting started.

To be equitable, all new users must also pay for the service.

Yes, for a once-off cost of $99 tenants can register to use the food and green waste service.

All current users of the food and green waste service have paid a one off charge for their food and green waste bin, kitchen caddy and compostable bags. This charge covers the cost of getting started.

To be equitable, all new users must also pay for the service.

More than 50% of the average Bayside general waste bin is food waste which can now be recycled via our food and green waste recycling service.

We encourage residents who are not already using the food and green waste recycling service to sign up prior to 1 July 2022 to get ready for the change.

Recent bin health checks also show that residents who are currently using the food and green waste recycling service are still putting food in the general waste bins (around 36%). Recyclable materials also make up 18% of general waste bin contents.

By recycling correctly, e.g. putting all food waste in the food and green waste bin and all recyclables in the recycling bin, you will be able to accommodate the change to fortnightly general waste collections.

Yes, if your apartment building or block of units uses Council waste services.

If your apartment building or block of units uses Council waste services there will be a Bayside City Council logo on your bins.

With 83% of households now using the food and green waste recycling service, a large proportion of our food waste is now being recycled into compost at our contractor’s composting facility in Dandenong.

This is great news for our hip pockets as landfills are filling up and costs are rising. Waste costs are passed on directly to ratepayers and this year, the Victorian Government landfill levy is increasing by 60%.

The reduction in food going into landfill is also great for the environment as decomposing food waste creates methane, a damaging greenhouse gas.

Changing the collection schedules is nothing new, with this approach proving to be successful in other municipalities.

The change is part of our response to the Climate Emergency and commitment to do more to reduce Bayside’s carbon emissions. Reducing the amount of waste the Bayside community sends to landfill is an important element of this commitment.

We are asking the community for feedback on how we can support our residents through the change and what additional support do we need to offer to groups who may have particular waste needs.

We are encouraging all households to use the food and green waste recycling service to complement the general waste service.

After the initial one-off starter cost, which is paid by all users, the cost of using both services is the same as just using the general waste service.

The standard food waste bin is bigger than the general waste bin. This means the change will actually increase your weekly waste capacity if using the food and green waste and recycling services correctly.

Bin audits show that 18% of general waste bin contents is recycling that should be in the blue bin whilst a further 36% is food waste and can go into the food and green waste bin. This adds 54% more capacity to your general waste bin.

It may be beneficial to discuss your overall bin needs with your neighbours and plan to switch a general waste bin for another food and green waste bin closer to 1 July 2022.

We are encouraging all households to use the food and green waste recycling service and the time might be right to consider obtaining your own bin.

We’re switching the bin collection schedule to reduce our impact on the environment and avoid smelly bins and increased landfill costs.

From 1 July 2022:

• food and green waste bins with the lime green lids will be emptied weekly
• general waste bins with the dark green lids will be emptied fortnightly

There are no other changes to waste services – recycling and hard waste collections and the day your bins are emptied will remain the same.

Food will still be collected weekly, just in your food and green waste bin.

Managing waste is an important service provided by Council and we are committed to reducing the impact of Bayside’s waste on our environment.

The change to collection frequencies is part of Bayside’s response to the Climate Emergency. It aims to encourage residents to recycle more and help to reduce Bayside’s carbon emissions.

The standard food and green waste bin is bigger than the general waste bin. This means the change will actually increase your weekly waste capacity if using the food and green waste and recycling services correctly.

Bin audits show that 18% of general waste bin contents is recycling that should be in the blue bin whilst a further 36% is food waste and can go into the food and green waste bin. This adds 54% more capacity to your general waste bin.

We are asking for feedback from the community to understand how to support residents through the change in collections. This may include developing targeted waste services to assist residents with specific waste needs.

Our recent bin audits also show that residents who are currently using the food and green waste recycling service are still putting food in the general waste bins (around 36%).

Recyclable materials also make up 18% of general waste bin contents, with soft plastics comprising 10%. Our aim is to encourage the community to put all recyclables in the correct bin and dispose of soft plastics via the Redcycle services available at local supermarkets, Beaumaris Library, and Council’s Corporate Centre at 76 Royal Avenue, Sandringham.

If all recyclable materials are removed from the general waste bin, this will help to reduce general waste volumes by more than 50%.

The food and green waste collected from Bayside households is sent to an organics facility to go through a treatment process and transformed into high-grade compost which is used by Victorian farmers.

Find out more about what happens to your food and green waste.