Positive first year for bookable bulk waste collection

The City’s transition to a bookable waste collection service has resulted in more than 2,000 tonnes of material being diverted from landfill.

Mayor Linda Aitken said the results show clear benefits for the community.

“More than 12 months on, this system is delivering real environmental and financial benefits for our residents,” Mayor Aitken said.

“Giving people the flexibility to book a collection when it suits them is a modern, convenient and sustainable approach. It’s great to see the community embracing it!”

Introduced in July 2024, the new system replaced the traditional scheduled verge collections with a more modern, convenient and sustainable approach. 

Instead of waiting for an annual collection date, residents can choose a time of year or date  that suits them and book online, by phone or in person with five collection streams available: bulk junk, bulk green waste, mattresses, whitegoods and e-waste.
 
The change was designed to support better recycling habits, improve separation of materials, reduce scavenging and keep local streets cleaner year round.

Since launch, more than 40,000 collections have been completed and wait times have dropped from up to 8 weeks at the start of the new service to just 2-4 weeks . 

The City has also achieved an impressive 37.6% recycling rate, diverting over 2,100 tonnes of materials from landfill, and supporting Council’s vision for a more sustainable future. 

Residents have embraced the change with more than 70% satisfied with the new model, saying they’d happily use it again.

A full review and community survey will be undertaken after three years of operation to measure long-term performance and track improvements.

For more information read our Bulk Review Fact Sheet.