Green waste recycling service
Learn how our green waste bin rollout is reducing your household landfill waste and boosting Brisbane’s sustainability.
Green bin rollout
From 1 July 2025, Council’s green waste recycling service will become part of our standard kerbside bin collection service.
Eligible properties that do not already have a green waste recycling bin will get a new 240L bin with a bright green lid. The bin will be delivered between August and December 2025.
Once delivered, the green waste recycling service will begin the following fortnight. Green waste bin collections occur every fortnight, alternating with yellow lid recycling bins.
What can I put in my new green waste recycling bin?
Acceptable items to put in your green waste recycling bin include:
- flowers and foliage
- grass clippings
- leaves and loose bark
- palm fronds
- prunings from shrubs and trees
- weeds, ivy, creepers and vines (including noxious weeds as the recycling process destroys seeds within the final composted material).
All other items are unacceptable and must not be placed in your green waste bin.
Green bins for houses (single-unit dwellings)
Owners and residents of single-unit homes who do not currently have a green waste bin will have one delivered to their property.
Delivery will be on a suburb-by-suburb basis. Once delivered, the green waste recycling service will begin the following fortnight.
Search for your suburb to find out when to expect your new green bin.
Green waste recycling bin delivery schedule
Green bins for multi-unit dwellings
Multi-unit dwellings will not automatically receive a green waste recycling bin. However, if you own a property in a multi-unit development, you may be eligible to opt-in for the green waste recycling service. Council will assess requests on a case-by-case basis.
If a unit is strata titled (owner-occupied), the owner can request a green waste recycling bin. We'll contact the owner to confirm where the bin will be placed and who will present the bin for collection.
If the property has a building manager or body corporate, they must provide approval before the unit owner contacts Council.
Tenants living in multi-unit dwellings can also apply for a green waste recycling bin. Requests will be assessed based on development conditions to determine suitability.
Unit owners can request a green waste recycling bin by:
- phoning Council on 07 3403 8888
- visiting Council.
Opting out of the service
Homeowners/residents who do not wish to receive a green waste recycling bin can request:
- to opt-out of receiving a green waste recycling bin
- the removal of a green waste recycling bin that has been delivered.
Requests must be submitted via the online form by 1 December 2025.
Unless a request form is submitted to Council, all eligible properties will automatically receive a green waste recycling bin.
To opt-out of receiving a green waste recycling bin, or to request a green waste recycling bin be removed from a property, complete the online form.
Frequently asked questions
Single-unit dwellings (stand-alone houses) are eligible to receive a green waste bin. The rollout will include both owner-occupied and tenanted properties.
This service will not result in any additional fees beyond the existing quarterly waste utility charge for a standard three-bin system (general waste, recycling, and green waste recycling) from July 2025.
Owners of properties that currently have a green waste recycling service will see the separate charge removed from their rates notice from July 2025.
Eligible properties are entitled to one green waste recycling bin as part of their waste utility charge.
You can order a second green bin for an additional quarterly charge.
Requests for extra bins (3 or more) are assessed on a case-by-case basis. As the green waste recycling service can only be serviced once a fortnight, extra scheduled collections are not available.
Each additional bin will be charged at the new full rate of $49.52 for the service.
Learn more about ordering new bins.
No refunds or reimbursements will be made for previous payments of green waste recycling service charges.
If you are a tenant of an eligible property, you do not need to apply for the green waste recycling service. The property you rent will automatically have a bin delivered and you can begin using the service.
No, you can't put food in your green waste recycling bin. We encourage residents to compost at home or in their local community.
If your investment property is an eligible single-unit dwelling, your green waste bin will be automatically delivered between August and December 2025. When it is delivered, the resident of the property can start to use the bin immediately.
If your investment property is a unit or a townhouse, you can learn more about green bins for multi-unit dwellings.
If the property does not receive a green waste bin, contact Council on 07 3403 8888.
If your property has just recently been built, you can request all your kerbside bins (general waste, recycling and green waste recycling) online.
Learn more about ordering bins for newly built houses.
No. If you already have a green waste bin, the day you put out the bin each fortnight will remain the same. Green waste recycling bins are serviced every fortnight, alternating with your recycling (yellow lid) bin.
There are no changes to the collection days for general waste (red lid) and recycling (yellow lid) bins.
Search for your address in our calendar to find bin collection dates in your area.
Green waste is taken to Council’s resource recovery centres. It is then shredded and collected in bulk for processing by Council contractors who compost the green waste at their facilities.
Green waste material is then prepared for reuse as mulch or compost.
Yes, if you have an in-home service, it will automatically include all Council issued bins at your property. You do not need to contact Council to arrange this.
Schools, kindergartens, churches and businesses are not included in the city-wide green bin rollout, but may still apply for a green waste recycling bin through Council’s standard business-as-usual bin service.
These requests will be assessed individually. More information on service availability and any applicable charges will be provided upon application.
Learn more about business recycling and bins for schools.
There are a few things you can do if you haven’t received your green waste recycling bin.
- Check all frontages of your property - especially if it has a dual frontage. As the green bins are delivered to the kerb, your bin could have been moved from the original position due to weather or other street conditions.
- Make sure that no one in your household has requested for the green waste recycling bin not to be delivered or picked up from the property.
If you can't locate the bin, contact Council.
