What you should know about garden waste in Brisbane

Turn your garden waste into green gold! Discover garden waste, composting, and mulching tips. They can help cut landfill, save money, and create a thriving garden. From green bins to resource recovery centres, discover the best ways to keep your backyard, and our city, sustainable.

What happens when green waste goes to landfill?

Many people incorrectly assume that green waste naturally breaks down into compost easily when buried in landfill.

Compacting and burying green waste without oxygen slows down its breakdown. This process creates gases like methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and that is 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

Why is recycling garden waste important?

A green bin is an easy way to recycle garden waste like lawn clippings, leaves and prunings.

Green waste is taken to Council's resource recovery centres and transformed into nutrient-rich compost for citywide reuse.

Top tips for proper garden waste disposal

Here are 3 ways you can use your garden waste for good.

1. Present your green bin each fortnight

Council's green waste recycling service is now a key part of our collection service. This means all eligible homes will use three bins: red, yellow, and green. Make the most of your green bin by putting it on the kerb each fortnight, alternating with your yellow bin.

Top green waste bin tips

Cut larger palm fronds down so they fit inside your green bin to make collection easier. Remember to close the lid for collection.
The collection service picks up green bins fortnightly, so plan to mow just before your scheduled bin day. Download the Brisbane Bin and Recycling app to find your green bin collection day and to set-up fortnightly reminders.
Keep your garden waste loose. Never use plastic or compostable bin bags. 
Remember, garden waste can get heavy, so watch how much weight you put inside your bin. The maximum weight is 70 kilograms.
Only put plant waste in your green bin. Do not add hoses, plastic plant pots, or potting mix bags. This is the wrong kid of garden waste.
Regularly trim trees, branches, and mow your grass. Place them in your green bin to keep your yard neat and tidy and prepare for an emergency.
Keep food waste out of your green bin. Consider the compost rebate program to recycle food scraps, or put food waste in your red bin.

2. Home composting

Consider recycling your food scraps and green waste at home by setting up a home composting system.

Composting at home is growing in Brisbane with more and more residents using their own composting systems. Put garden waste and food scraps in a compost bin to create compost to add to your soil. Remember, food waste cannot go in your green bin.

Top composting tips

Council has a great compost rebate program to help get you started with composting at home.
Check out Council's helpful composting guide to learn all about the do's and don'ts of home composting.
For every 1 part of green material you put in your compost bin, add 2 parts of brown material. This will create the right balance.

3. Take large quantities to a resource recovery centre

Take garden waste to one of Council's 4 resource recovery centres if it exceeds your green bin capacity.

When you arrive at a resource recovery centre, staff will ask you what type of waste you are carrying. They will then guide you to the right place for recycling or disposal.

Keep in mind that fees apply when you take your waste to a resource recovery centre. However, you can use Council waste vouchers. You can also take part in free green waste recycling drop-off events on selected weekends throughout the year.

Top tips for your visit to a resource recovery centre

When you arrive, drop off recycling first. Pack recyclable items like paint tins and e-waste last, so they’re easy to unpack first.
If using a trailer, bring a rake or broom to easily move garden waste to the green waste pile.
Check out our helpful video on how to prepare your load before going to a resource recovery centre. This is especially useful if you have never been there before.
Watch our fly-through videos of your closest resource recovery centre.