Rubbish bin lids
The City of Whittlesea’s rubbish bin lids have changed from dark green to red to comply with the Victorian Government’s new standard bin lid colours.
This ensures you can get the right thing in the right bin and causes less confusion for others whether you’re at home or away on holiday.
Bins with green lids are still being collected as usual.
If you still have a dark green lid and have not received a red lid yet, continue putting your rubbish bin out on your regular collection day.
We will continue replacing lids on your regular collection day when your bin is emptied.
After your bin has been collected, there is no need to leave your bin out longer.
For more information, refer to the frequently asked questions below or call us on 03 9217 2170.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why are rubbish bin lids being changed?
By complying with the Victorian Government's new standard bin lid colours, people across the state will be able to sort waste with ease. The change aims to reduce confusion. If you're at home or somewhere else in Victoria, you will easily know which bin is the right bin to choose.
When is my rubbish bin lid changing?
If you have not received a red lid yet, we will continue replacing lids on your regular collection day when your bin is emptied. There is no need to leave your bin out after it has been emptied.
What do I need to do?
Place your bin out as you normally would on your usual collection day and our truck drivers will continue to replace lids on your regular collection day when your bin is emptied.
Is there a cost to residents for replacing the bin lids?
No. The replacement of rubbish bin lids is part of our commitment to meeting the state government’s recycling standards and managing waste in our community.
Will this affect what I can put in my bins?
No. The rubbish bin lid replacement won’t change what goes into your bins.
However, this is a great time to refresh your knowledge of what can and can’t be placed in your rubbish, recycling, glass recycling and food and garden waste bins.
Before placing an item in the rubbish bin, check that it cannot be recycled or repurposed. You can explore easy, free and local options to dispose of your unwanted items. Visit our A-Z guide to waste and recycling to learn more.
Never put batteries, including vapes and e-cigarettes, in the rubbish bin. Batteries can cause fires in collection trucks and in landfill, putting our community at risk. Chemicals, paint, gas bottles and e-waste also do not belong in any bin.
Can I opt out of this bin lid replacement?
No. Bin lid standardisation is mandatory under the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria Policy.
This policy aims to help everyone manage waste more easily and reduce confusion across the state.
What if my bin is missed?
Lid replacements will continue over the coming months. With over 52,000 lids being replaced across the City of Whittlesea, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to complete this process.
Are there any changes happening to how often my rubbish bin is collected?
Your rubbish bin will continue to be collected each week. Long term, our plan is to keep working toward a low waste community.
Our next step is to introduce weekly food and garden waste bins for every household.
This is important because almost half of all waste in the rubbish bin is actually food scraps or garden waste that could have been quickly composted. This waste instead sometimes spends decades creating harmful gases in landfill.
In the food and garden waste bin (green lid), kitchen scraps and garden waste become high-quality compost that's used in local parks, kindergartens and farms.
Once weekly food and garden waste bin collections are in place for everyone, we’ll be looking at changes to rubbish bin collections in 2027. We will keep everyone updated as plans develop.