Green waste recycling service

Green waste recycling bins are an easy, affordable way to dispose of green waste. Be prepared for storm season by using your green bin for lawn clippings, prunings and leaves.

Green waste bins are collected fortnightly and disposed of at the green waste recycling facility. The green waste is composted and mulched ready for reuse.

Save $30 when ordering a green waste recycling bin

From 1 July 2019, Council waived the $30 establishment fee for the green waste recycling service.

Find out more about the costs for this service.

What you can and can't put in your green recycling bin

Acceptable and unacceptable bin items

This table includes information about what items can and can't be placed in your green waste recycling bin.
Acceptable items Unacceptable items

Garden waste including:

  • grass clippings
  • leaves and loose bark
  • palm fronds
  • prunings from shrubs and trees
  • weeds (including noxious weeds as the recycling process destroys seeds within the final composted material).
  • cat litter
  • animal droppings
  • general waste
  • glass
  • plastic - all types (e.g. plastic bags, compostable bags, wrappers, containers)
  • packaging
  • cardboard
  • clothing and other fabric
  • food
  • metal (e.g. cans, kitchen appliances, pots, pans)
  • logs, large branches, or stumps wider than 10 centimetres
  • paper - all types (e.g. paper towel, tissues, deli paper, newspaper)
  • rocks and stones
  • soil
  • timber - all types (e.g. construction materials, wooden furniture, offcuts).

Green waste should not be bagged before placing in the green waste recycling bin. Materials should be no larger than 10 centimetres in diameter and 75 centimetres in length. The lid of the bin should be able to close so don’t place anything in the bin that will make the bin difficult for the truck to lift, for instance long palm fronds should be cut down to fit within the bin.

For large volumes of green waste, consider using a garden bag collection service. Council’s resource recovery centres also accept green waste.

Apply for a green waste recycling bin

Before you order a green waste recycling bin, check you have enough room to store the bin on your property and have enough space on the kerbside for collection.

You can request a maximum of two bins per household. Council will assess your needs if you require more than two bins.

House owners (single unit dwellings)

To order a green waste recycling bin for your home, you can use your rate account number (included on your rate account) or your address.

Place your order online 

You can also order a green waste recycling bin for your home by:

Unit owners (multi-unit dwellings)

Owners of multi-unit dwellings may be eligible for the green waste recycling service and can be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If a unit is strata titled (owner-occupied), the owner can order a green waste recycling bin. Council will 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 orders the bin. 

Unit owners can order a green waste recycling bin by:

Tenants

Tenants must get the property owner to approve and order the green waste recycling bin.

Cost of service

The cost for each bin:

Details of the number of bins, quarterly charge and billing method for each green waste bin.
Number of bins 1 x 240 litre green waste recycling bin
Quarterly charge $23.42 ($1.80 per week)
Billing process Charges will appear on your rates account

The cost of the service is for bin production and collection costs. These costs are not covered by existing rates charges.

Billing and conditions

Billing will start when your collection service starts.

You must commit to the service for a minimum of 12 months. After this time you can end the service.

Bin collection and delivery

Council will normally deliver your new green waste recycling bin within three working days of placing your order.

Bins are collected every fortnight, alternating with your yellow top recycling bin.

Transfer of service

Green waste recycling bins are transferrable from one property to another or from one person to another. Contact Council to transfer a bin.

Video - Be part of Brisbane's recycling story with a green waste bin

You can also watch this video on Council's YouTube channel.

Last updated: 13 February 2023
Topics: green waste

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