When does my bin get collected?

We provide a two-bin or three-bin collection service to urban communities. General waste is collected weekly, while green waste and recycling are collected every alternate  week. For more information on which items go in each bin, see our A-Z Waste – Where to Next? interactive online guide.

Click here to find out bin collection times for specific locations.

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How do I get my missed bins collected?

If collection of your bin is missed, please call the Council on (03) 5153 9500 and we may arrange for an alternative solution. We will need to know your address and the type of bin that has been missed. Contractors will then check truck cameras to see why the bin was missed and we will then arrange collection. Bins are generally collected at around 6.00 am (or earlier), so please put your bin out the night before.

During extreme weather like bushfires, storms, flooding and extreme heat, waste services may be suspended or postponed (to ensure the safety of our staff and environment) and will resume as soon as it is safe. Notifications about closure of waste facilities or suspension of waste collection will be posted on Council’s Facebook page and via the Council’s Emergency Dashboard.

See Replacing a lost or stolen bin

Where is my closest landfill / transfer station?

We operate 35 waste facilities: one landfill, 17 transfer stations, 13 trailer sites and four bin enclosures in more remote areas. Our waste sites are closed on Christmas Day and Good Friday. We do not accept RV grey water, sewage waste.

View or download our landfills and transfer station fees and locations brochure.

See which items are accepted at each site at A-Z Waste – Where to Next?

For more detailed fees – visit our Waste Disposal Fees page.  

Transfer stations: eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/landfills-and-transfer-stations

How much will this cost me to dispose of?

View our detailed online guide of which items are accepted where at A-Z Waste – Where to Next?

You can also save money by sorting your waste before heading to Bairnsdale Landfill or local transfer stations.

Loads that are sorted into recyclables, green waste and general rubbish are often cheaper to dispose of than mixed loads. Waste fees are only charged for the space the load takes up in the trailer, not the whole trailer.

View or download the Sort Your Waste and Save brochure   

View our complete list of fees and charges for waste disposal:

What can I dispose of / recycle for free?

You can RECYCLE these for FREE at the Bairnsdale Landfill and our transfer stations:

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Also see:

Yellow lid – What goes in my mixed recycling bin?

Green lid – What goes in my garden organics bin?

Waste disposal fees – Recycle these for FREE

Hazardous waste – Disposal fees

Circular economy, innovations and developments – Local recycling initiatives

Can I recycle this?

Despite the complexity of recycling, our 2024-25 Waste Audit showed that our community is getting better at it compared to 2021 figures, with the general rubbish (red lid) bin collections having:

11% less compostable waste

6% less recyclable waste

3% less textile waste.

Check out our Waste Wise Guide for tips on what can be recycled in East Gippsland, and where recycled items can go instead of the general waste (red lid) bin.

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Why can’t I recycle this in East Gippsland?

Some recycling programs offered in Melbourne are not available in East Gippsland due to long distances from processing plants and lower market demand. If possible, please consider safely stockpiling items for recycling when travelling to larger population centres.

Please also consider how items may be reused or repurposed before recycling.  

Check out local drop-off points for recyclable items at A-Z Waste – Where to Next?

When is hard rubbish collected?

Instead of having an annual hard rubbish collection in East Gippsland, ratepayers receive two NO FEE Disposal Vouchers with their Annual Rates Notice. This includes:

One (1) FREE disposal – Green Waste via voucher (up to 1.5m³) to value of $21

One (1) FREE disposal – Hard Waste via voucher (up to 1m³) to value of $65.

Hard waste (such as furniture) can also be offered for recycling at the Bairnsdale Tip Shop and through locations listed in the East Gippsland Second-hand Guide

Why do I have to pay for green waste?

Green waste disposal is not free for Council. It costs money to collect green waste, transport and process it. Fees help cover operational costs, maintain facilities, meet environmental standards and keep waste services running sustainably for the community.  

We do, however, offer NO FEE green waste during the entire month of November to help ratepayers and residents prepare for the bushfire season. We also provide ratepayers with a Green Waste voucher for free green waste disposal up to 1.5m³, to value of $21. The voucher is found with the Annual Rates Notice.

Learn more at waste disposal fees.

How do I stop my green waste getting stuck in the bin?

Try these tips for putting garden organics waste in your green lidded recycling so items don’t get stuck in the bin when being emptied. This makes the job easier for our waste contractors, too, and helps keep your bins clean.

🌿 Put bulkier items in first, so grass clippings don’t stick in the bottom.

🌿 Layer your waste, with ‘wet/green’ waste and ‘dry/brown’ waste layers.

🌿 Keep all items loose – no plastic bags please.

🌿 Make sure the lid can still close fully.

🌿 Yes please – grass clippings, leaves, garden weeds, small branches.

❌ No thanks – rubbish, no plastic or pots, no treated timber, no soil.

❌ No food scraps – please try composting these at home or pop in red bin.

❌ No nappies

How do I find the green and hard waste rubbish vouchers?

Ratepayers receive two FREE Disposal Vouchers with their Annual Rates Notice.

One (1) FREE disposal – Green Waste via voucher (up to 1.5m³) to value of $21

One (1) FREE disposal – Hard Waste via voucher (up to 1m³) to value of $65

Hard waste (such as furniture) can also be offered for recycling at the Bairnsdale Tip Shop and through locations listed in the East Gippsland Second-hand Guide

How do I report illegal dumping?

Illegally dumped rubbish and litter is bad for the environment and costly for Council, resulting in greater costs to ratepayers. Littering (small scale) and illegal dumping (large scale) are criminal offences that cause environmental damage by disposing of waste on public or private land without authorisation. Rubbish dumping and littering on public land is illegal with a maximum penalty of $3,951,800 for businesses and $800,000 for individuals or five years imprisonment, or both.

Victoria’s General Environmental Duty outlines reasonable and practical steps on how to reduce these risks and applies to all households and businesses. Don’t let illegal dumpers get away with it!

Send, Snap Solve lets you to send through the location, a photograph and information about dumped rubbish.

Or report dumping via feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au or 5153 9500

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When is the FOGO coming?

We are currently expanding our green waste program to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting organic waste from landfill.

Located next to Bairnsdale Landfill in Forge Creek, a proposed Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Composting Facility will be able to process up to 25,000 tonnes of food and garden organics each year, with the potential to reduce future landfill emissions by up to 97 per cent. A weekly FOGO kerbside collection is also expected to be rolled out from early 2028.

FOGO forms part of our 10 Year Waste and Recycling Services Transition Plan to deliver sustainable, affordable services that reduce landfill, protect our environment and embrace a circular economy.

Are we getting the glass recycling bins, too?

East Gippsland Shire Council is one of 35 Victorian councils urging the state government to pause the rollout of the fourth glass-only bin service, which is mandatory for councils to implement from July 2027.

Instead, we want to expand the Container Deposit Scheme, so people can deposit their wine and spirit bottles through existing infrastructure. This would provide similar environmental benefits, while shifting the costs to polluters rather than councils and their ratepayers.

We believe this is a better way to recycle glass and invite the state government to work with councils on smarter, more cost-effective solutions that achieve stronger environmental outcomes without burdening households.

Why are the gates locked at transfer station bays?

We keep the transfer station bay gates locked to keep the public safe and to comply with occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations.  
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Prior to locking the gates we experienced a number of serious incidents and near misses at our Transfer Stations. A review was undertaken into the risk of people falling into waste bins while unloading trailers and vehicles. Research found similar incidents across Victoria and Australia, including fatalities, where the absence of barriers contributed to falls.

Safe Work Australia also recommends eliminating or minimising fall risks through measures such as barriers, wheel stops, clear signage, supervision and safe disposal methods.

Our 10-Year Waste and Recycling Transition Plan outlines how we'll deliver sustainable and affordable waste services while reducing landfill, protecting the environment and supporting a circular economy.

It sets out a staged approach to providing reliable and fair services that make better use of resources by valuing materials and maximising recovery and recycling.

More than 900 residents highlighted priorities such as improved recycling options, expanded kerbside services and better education. Engagement will continue as actions are implemented.

Initial actions focus on changes that will have the greatest impact, including reducing large waste streams and introducing services, education programs and partnerships that support resource recovery and job creation.

The plan also includes changes required by the Victorian Government, such as the introduction of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) and future glass recycling services.

Read and download the plan: 10 Year Waste and Recycling Services Transition Plan.

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The new Kerbside Bin Collection Calendars for Area 1 and Area 2 are now available. Residents are encouraged to check their calendar to stay up to date with their waste, recycling and garden organics collection schedule.

Hard copies can be collected from the Bairnsdale Corporate Centre, Bairnsdale Library, Council Service Centres and Transfer Stations.

View or download your calendar online:

• Area 1: Bairnsdale (excluding Lucknow, Eastwood and East Bairnsdale), Eagle Point, Ensay, Lindenow, Lindenow South, Newlands Arm, Omeo, Paynesville, Raymond Island, Shannon Waters, Swifts Creek, Walpa and Wy Yung.
• Area 2: Bruthen, Cabbage Tree, Cann River, East Bairnsdale, Eastwood, Genoa, Johnsonville, Kalimna, Lake Bunga, Lake Tyers, Lakes Entrance, Lucknow, Mallacoota, Marlo, Metung, Newmerella, Nicholson, Nowa Nowa, Nungurner, Orbost, Sarsfield and Swan Reach.

The Victorian Government has directed all councils to introduce a glass recycling bin by mid‑2027. Independent modelling commissioned by councils found that a fourth bin would be costly to establish and maintain – and that a better, more affordable alternative already exists.

Council is one of over 30 Victorian Councils actively advocating to the Victorian Government to postpone the mandatory requirement for councils to provide a glass only bin service to households.

The group of councils is significantly concerned about the cost implications the glass only bin service will have on their community.

We have shared a survey conducted by more than 30 councils with the state government and will continue to advocate against the 2027 rollout.
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What are our concerns?

Independent modelling commissioned on behalf of councils has raised several concerns about introducing a separate glass recycling bin.

The study examined 22 councils and found that:

• Introducing a glass‑only kerbside recycling service would cost councils a combined $75 million to set up.
• Running a monthly glass collection service would cost a typical council an additional $1.43 million each year.

These costs are likely to be passed on to households through higher waste and recycling service charges.

There are also practical and environmental concerns, including:

• The added burden on households to sort recycling into another bin.
• The space required to store an additional (fourth) bin at home.
• More waste collection trucks on local streets, particularly in narrow suburban areas.
• Increased traffic, emissions and impacts on neighbourhood amenity.
• Inefficiencies with collections as glass packaging represents a very small portion of the materials collected in the mixed recycling service.
• There are no quantifiable environmental benefits for our community, our glass will continue to be recycled back into glass packaging, it will just cost more to achieve this.

For many households, this change would result in four kerbside bins, including one already used for recycling glass. At a time when many people are managing rising living costs, additional bins and services this may place extra pressure on households.

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Is there an alternative to a glass‑only bin?

Yes. A Container Deposit Scheme allows people to return eligible empty drink containers to collection points in exchange for a refund. In Victoria, this is currently 10 cents per eligible container. Since being launched in November 2023 the scheme has seen around 10 million containers processed a week.

Expanding Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme to include wine and spirit bottles is a proven alternative. All other states, with the exception of Victoria and Tasmania, have already adopted, or are moving towards, this approach.

‍What is Council's specific request to the Victorian Government?
We are asking the Victorian Government to pause the proposed mid-2027 mandate, release the business case for the fourth bin, and prioritise expanding the CDS. Councils and residents want an effective, affordable and straightforward system.
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Council currently offers a free sharps disposal container exchange service. This service is available during business hours for residents of East Gippsland shire. This sharps disposal service is available to diabetics and home-care patients who require the use and disposal of needles for medical purposes and people who use medical sharps (such as Ozempic, EpiPens, CGRP inhibitors).

Council’s sharps disposal service is not available for commercial businesses. If you require this service for your business, please contact a licenced waste contactor who can dispose of biohazard material.

Sharps containers can be exchanged at the following locations:

Bairnsdale

Corporate Centre

273 Main Street Bairnsdale

Phone (03) 5153 9500

Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm

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Lakes Entrance

18 Mechanics Street, Lakes Entrance

Phone (03) 5153 9500

Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm

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Omeo

179 Day Avenue, Omeo

Phone (03) 5153 9500

Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm

For more information, contact Council on 03 5153 9500.

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Orbost

1 Ruskin Street, Orbost

Phone (03) 5153 9500

Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm

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Paynesville

55 The Esplanade, Paynesville

Phone (03) 5153 9500

Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm

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