It is estimated that up to 70% of household waste can be recycled. In recent years, there has been a major global push towards recycling, and more and more of us are taking the time to sort our waste so that it can be directed away from landfill and repurposed. The most common types of materials and products that can be recycled include:

• Paper and cardboard, including pizza boxes
• Glass jars and bottles
• Aluminium and steel tins and cans
• Hard plastic containers, for example, yoghurt pots, fruit containers and takeaway boxes
• Aerosol cans (empty)
• Aluminium foil and foil trays
• Ink cartridges
• Hard plastic items, for example, children’s toys and CD boxes

• Batteries
• Soft plastics
• Polystyrene foam (for example, takeaway coffee cups)
• Food waste (there is a separate bin for this)
• Nappies
• Chemical waste

If you have any questions about what can be recycled, or you’re unsure which box to use for different types of waste, you’ll find tips and advice online. In most cases, items that cannot be recycled can be disposed of in general household waste. Exceptions include medical and chemical waste and batteries. 

If you’re looking for a bin service in Melbourne, or you’ve recently moved to the state from another part of Australia, you may come across different types of bins. There is a coloured-coded system in place to make it easier to sort rubbish and promote recycling. There are three main types of household bins found in Melbourne and the surrounding suburbs. These include:

• Yellow Lid: this bin contains items that can be recycled, for example, hard plastic containers, tins and cans and glass bottles
• Green Lid: this bin contains garden waste, including weeds and grass cuttings
• Red Lid: this bin contains household waste that cannot be recycled, for example, food waste that cannot be composted, nappies and ceramics

It’s also possible to hire blue recycling boxes for paper. This is a great idea if you work from home, or if you run a business. 

If you are embarking on a large-scale clear out, you’re renovating your home, or you’ve moved house and you’re looking to get rid of rubbish and debris before you start work, it’s wise to consider contacting a bin service in Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs. This way, you can dispose of everything simply and quickly and ensure that anything that is suitable for recycling doesn’t end up in landfill. Mini skip hire is an excellent idea if you have a lot of rubbish to get rid of. 

If you live in Melbourne, you should have access to two 120-litre bins, one for household waste and one for recycling. You can also upgrade to a 240-litre bin for free as part of a scheme to encourage recycling. If you find that your bins are always full, or you’re disposing of a lot of rubbish due to a house clearance, for example, it’s a good idea to consider skip bin hire. This will enable you to store your rubbish safely and securely and arrange collection at a time that is convenient for you. You can choose to hire bins of all sizes, from 6 to 28 cubic metres, depending on your individual needs. 

The best way to find out about bin collection dates for your Melbourne home is to visit the council website. This site contains up to date information about garbage and recycling collections. Typically, collection takes place between 6am and 4pm, with collections taking place weekly. The chosen day will depend on the suburb or area. If you live in a block of apartments, you may find that there are several different days for collection. Collections take place on most public holidays, but in some cases, the day may be moved, for example, Christmas Day. 

Bins and skips can pose a risk in terms of health and safety and attracting unwanted visitors. To keep your home looking neat and tidy, and to prevent families of mice and rats paying you a visit, try and store your bins in a secure area, for example, a bin store at the back of the house. In most cases, councils advise residents to put their bins out the night before collection, as the rounds usually begin at 6am. If it’s windy outside, make sure lids are placed securely on boxes and bins. 

Recycling is an effective means to reduce waste and to reuse materials like glass, paper and metals. If you don’t already recycle, or you’’re new to the Eastern suburbs or the city of Melbourne, you might have questions about the different boxes and bins you need to sort your rubbish for recycling. When disposing of waste, most items can be recycled, and these should be placed in your recycling bin. Other types of waste can be placed in household bins or a skip. You can find information about the different types of boxes and collection dates via the council website. Initially, it might be a little time-consuming to sort your waste for recycling, but once you get used to it, and you know exactly what you can and can’t recycle, the process will become second nature. If you’re clearing out your home, or you need extra bins or a skip for rubbish removal, for example, it’s worth contacting a bin hire company.