What's in Darebin bins

How well do we recycle? By using the right bins, we can reduce our waste and lessen our impacts on the environment.

Every year, we audit household bins to better understand how our residents are using their bins, and to plan our education activities. Our waste management contractor, Solo, inspects the waste and recycling bin contents of about 250 households that are randomly selected from across the municipality.

When incorrect items are placed in recycling or food and green waste bins, it is considered contaminated. Contamination is a major challenge for us because it:

• can put recycling workers at risk of injury
• increases the cost of processing recycling
• reduces the quality of recycled material
• slows down how we process recycling

Highlights from the May 2024 waste audit

• An average Darebin household generates 19kg of waste, recycling and food and green waste per week. On average, 53% of that is recycled or turned into compost
• An average Darebin household puts about 7 kg (74 litres) in the general waste bin per week. General waste bin consisted of 48% food and garden waste and 11% recyclables (such as cardboard or glass)
• An average Darebin household generates 4 kg (83 litres) of recycling per week. The contamination rate for recycling bins was 26%, which is much higher than the Victorian councils' average contamination rate of 10.5%
• The most common contamination identified in recycling bins were household rubbish, bagged recycling, packaged food, non-recyclable plastics, clothing and e-waste
• An average Darebin household generates 7 kg (39 litres) of food and green waste per week. The contamination rate for the food and green waste bin was4.85%
• The most common contamination identified in food and garden waste bins were bagged food waste and oversized logs

What can we do to recycle right and reduce waste?

• Plastic bags cannot be put in our recycling bins or food and green waste bins - even if they’re compostable or biodegradable
• Keep rubbish out of recycling and food and green waste bins
• Use the right bins to reduce waste sent to landfill by 60%

By recycling right, we can send less materials to landfill, reduce pressure on the environment, including greenhouse gas emissions, and help boost the circular economy.

Find out what you can and cannot recycle.