Starting from July 2027 Merri-bek Council plans on changing general waste
collection from weekly to fortnightly.
We don’t have to be pitted against each other. We also want to reduce landfill
AND there are better ways.
Council’s own Circular Economy Policy was only adopted late last year. Get
some scores on the board on initiatives and education before cutting services to an
unequipped community.
Rubbish collection is the most fundamental service council provides. Waste
doesn't disappear because bins are collected less often — it simply rots longer in our
homes. For families with young children, all menstruating residents, elderly residents
managing incontinence, pet owners, and people in high-density housing already
sharing bins, storing biological waste for two weeks isn't a minor inconvenience. It
means odours, hygiene risks, vermin, and a genuine loss of dignity — especially in
summer. Please don’t subject us to health risks or force residents to use
plastic in an attempt to capture offensive odors.
34 other Victorian Councils are saying NO to the Purple bin. The future of waste
management is precarious and an election is looming. Merri-bek Council should not
proceed with this change until the State Government decides on expansion of its
CDS scheme and the tens of millions of cost other Councils nor its ratepayers will
pay.
Your bin capacity will decrease by 25% over the fortnight. Merri-bek Council
claims it will give concessions for XL bins for nappies and large families and those
with a medical condition and in the trial minimum evidence had to be given so it
wasn’t a barrier to upsizing to a larger bin. These concessions will allow 33%
more capacity negating the reduction by other households.
Merri-bek is incredibly diverse. From Brunswick to Fawkner, none of our 11 wards
are the same, yet this proposal treats all of them identically. Shared bin spaces WILL
overflow. Footpaths WILL be cluttered. Bins WILL get contaminated.
Elderly and disabled residents already struggle with their current bins.
We currently manage 110 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish every month. Reduce
collections, and that number will rise — along with the cleanup costs rate payer's foot.
These things all cost money. From consultants, engagement, new bins,
removal of old bins. We need transparency. Please show us how that stacks up
against projected landfill savings.
Your own trial report states 51% of participants found the change very
difficult/difficult compared to 37% that found it very easy/easy, yet public
messaging focused almost entirely on positives. This disconnect erodes trust.

Councillors in neighbouring councils including a couple that sit and chair
sustainability committees — including Whitehorse — have voted against fortnightly
collection after hearing from their communities which is proof there are better ways.
INSTEAD Let’s invest in education. Print stickers to provide clearer bin
signage. Partner with businesses to make certified compostable FOGO bags
accessible. Improve recycling & composting habits. All this can be done
without removing a crucial service residents rely on every single week.
Together we can put back trust in our council when we see the council listen and put
public health, dignity, accessibility, and fairness first.
Please keep the weekly rubbish bin collection.