A fundamental shift in how Brisbane manages household waste has begun, with Nundah residents joining a citywide movement to make the three-bin system the new standard and divert nearly a quarter of all residential rubbish from landfill.
The New Normal for Brisbane Bins
A fundamental shift in household waste management is now underway, making the three-bin system of general waste, recycling, and green waste the new standard for eligible homes. The citywide delivery of up to 160,000 new green-lidded bins officially started this month.
For residents in Nundah, as well as suburbs like Algester, Milton, and Northgate, deliveries are scheduled to take place between August 11 and August 22. The broader rollout will continue across Brisbane on a suburb-by-suburb basis until December, eventually expanding the service from 170,000 homes to all eligible properties.
From Garden Clippings to City Savings
This initiative gives residents a direct role in tackling one of the city’s biggest waste challenges. Garden organics currently make up almost a quarter of the contents in the average general waste bin. By separating this material, the community can help divert between 65,000 and 80,000 tonnes of green waste from landfill each year.
This diversion has a significant financial benefit, with Brisbane City Council projecting it will offset between $2 million and $3 million in state government waste levy costs in the first year alone, and up to $32 million over five years. The collected green waste will be recycled into valuable mulch and compost.
What the Change Means for You
As the green waste service becomes a core part of council’s collection, the fee structure is also being standardised. Households receiving a new bin will see a Universal Waste Charge of $49.52 added to their annual rates.
Property owners who already have a green bin will have the separate charge for that service removed and rolled into the standard waste charge, resulting in no extra cost. In a significant expansion of the program, renters are now eligible to receive and use a green bin. Once a new bin is delivered to a property, collections will begin the following fortnight, alternating weekly with the yellow-lidded recycling bin.
A Guide to Effective Green Recycling
To ensure the program’s success, it’s important for residents to place only acceptable items in their new green waste bins. This includes grass clippings, leaves, flowers, weeds, and small prunings from trees and shrubs. All garden material should be placed in the bin loose, not in bags. To allow for effective processing, items should be no larger than 10 centimetres in diameter and 75 centimetres in length. It is also important to ensure the bin lid can close completely. All other items, including soil, rocks, and general rubbish, must not be placed in the green waste bin.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the rollout builds on the city’s track record of sustainability and supports residents in doing the right thing for the environment. He stated that the council’s focus is on reducing waste, saving money, and making Brisbane a clean and sustainable capital city while supporting households through cost-of-living pressures.
Published Date 11-August-2025
