From May 2023, we’ll start swapping your garbage and recycling bin lids to match the Australian Standard bin lid colours – red for garbage and yellow for recycling.
To help make the change to the new bin lid colours as seamless as possible, we ask that you please:
1. Put both bins out on your usual garbage and recycling collection day
2. Put both bins out even if empty
3. Leave both bins out until 5pm on your collection day
4. Keep doing this each collection day until the bins have new red and yellow lids.
When should I start?
Please start on your first garbage and recycling collection day in May.
How will the changeover happen?
On your normal garbage and recycling collection day, our contractor will swap over your lid on the nature strip.
How long will the changeover take?
The changeover will take at least three months for Council’s contractor to complete.
Will my bin collection day change?
Bin collection days will not be affected by the changeover.
What if my bins are missed?
Please be assured that we will visit properties more than once to complete the lid change. Please check your mailbox for updates. If your bin lids have not been changed by September contact Council on 8290 1333 or email council@stonnington.vic.gov.au
When is my bin being changed?
Due to bin collection schedule, and scale of the changeover, it is difficult to predict exactly when your lids will be changed, and it may take a little while to get to everyone. Updates will be posted on this webpage about the progress of the changeover.
Will my bin collection day change?
Bin collection days will not be affected by the changeover.
What if my bins are missed?
We will visit properties more than once to complete the lid change. Please check your mailbox for updates. If your bin lids have not been changed by September contact Council on 8290 1333 or email council@stonnington.vic.gov.au
Why is Council changing bin lids?
We are changing garbage and recycling bin lids as part of the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria Policy. This means that the colours for each bin will be the same across the state, making it easier for people to know which bin is which and recycle right. The easier it is, the better we’ll be at sorting our waste, which will save resources and money.
What is happening to the old lids?
Old lids will be recycled locally into new plastic products. The new lids have been manufactured with recycled content.
My bin is damaged. Why did Council only change the lid?
Your bin was assessed as still in good working condition. To reduce the environmental impacts of manufacturing new bins, we have only changed the lid. Here's how you can report a broken bin at a later date.
What do I put in my new bin?
Other than the new lids, everything else about them remains the same. If you are not sure what goes in each bin, check out our A-Z Waste and Recycling Guide or download the MyStonnington app.
My bin is not damaged – why wasn’t it changed?
If you received a postcard saying your bin was not changed and it is not damaged, it is because it is the wrong bin colour. We are only changing over City of Stonnington recycling bins with black bodies and blue lids and garbage bins with dark green bodies and lids. Report it now.
Waste service |
Current colours |
New colours |
Garbage |
Dark green body and dark green lid |
Dark green body and red lid |
Recycling |
Black body with blue lid |
Black body with yellow lid |
Food and green waste bin (opt in service) |
Burgundy body and burgundy lid |
Black body with lime green lid |