Hard waste collection

Hard waste presented for collection on the nature strip

There are some changes to the collection model this year, with collection occurring over a one week period instead of one day.

This year, hard waste will be collected commencing Monday 29 June and concluding Friday 3 July 2026.

Items can be placed out after the 20th of June, and must be out by 6am on the 29th for collection.

Items may be collected by multiple vehicles (for example, metal may be collected separately) so if only part of your hard waste is collected in one go, don't stress - they'll be back for the rest.

To put your hard waste our for collection, please place items on your nature strip in a pile no larger than 3 cubic meters. Items must be no longer than 1.2 meters and weigh no more than 32kg per item.  All the hard waste together must take up less than three cubic metres (i.e., 3m long x 1m deep x1m high).

If you don’t have enough room on your nature strip for items, contact Council to discuss placement, or place items where you normally place your rubbish bins.

Hard Waste Q & A’s

What is hard waste?

Hard waste is material that can't be contained in your 120-litre kerbside waste bin. Items must not weigh more than 32 kilograms, be no longer than 1.2 metres or wider/deeper than 0.6 metres.

Once out for collection, the pile must not exceed 3 cubic meters. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in your hard waste not being collected.

When and where should I place my items out for collection?

Hard waste items should be placed neatly on your nature strip. All items must be out before 6am Monday 29 June 2026.

Do not place items out before Saturday 20 June 2026. Please try to keep footpath access as clear as possible. Do not place items on the road. Items will not be collected from inside property lines or lane ways.

Place any metal items in a separate pile for recycling.

All items must be less than 1.2 metres in length and able to be easily lifted by two people or they will not be collected. 

What can I do with items not accepted?

E-waste (excluding whitegoods) can be disposed of at the e-waste drop-off day on Saturday 16 May 2026 (9am-1pm) at the Ocean View Carpark. Otherwise, you can take them to the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre year round – no charge.

Household batteries can be dropped off at a local battery recycling collection point – click here to find your nearest location or download the Borough bins app to find a location.

Whitegoods (such as washing machines, clothes dryers, fridges, freezers, dishwashers and air conditioners) car batteries, e-waste, gas bottles, cooking oil, motor oil, household batteries, paint and pain tins, etc. are accepted free of charge at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre.

You can also dispose of any mattresses and tyres there for a small fee.

Drysdale Landfill accepted small domestic quantities (no larger than six by four trailer) of asbestos. No asbestos will be accepted without a prior booking. Find out more.

Expanded polystyrene foam can be recycled at the interim Geelong Resource Recovery Centre.

For any chemcials, Detox your home is a safe, free and easy-to-use service to dispose of highly toxic, unwanted household chemicals such as solvents, poisons and cleaning products. Visit Sustainability Victoria or call on 1800 353 233 for more information.

Download the Borough Bins App and check the sorting list to find out how to dispose of your items.

Is my hard waste recycled?

We aim to recycle all scrap metal, but everything else currently goes to landfill. Keep this in mind when placing items out - if they're still in good condition and usable, there are heaps of alternative methods to dispose of them: 

  • Pass it onto family or friends
  • Fix broken items
  • Donate, sell or swap items via:
    • Facebook Marketplace
    • Local facebook buy/swap/sell groups
    • Garage sale
    • Clothing swaps
    • Local Op Shops
    • Donate unwanted bikes (in good condition) to the Men’s Shed in Queenscliff

Hard waste should be reserved for items that you cannot recycle or reuse.

To help us recycle any scrap metal, please place it in a separate pile.

Are commercial and non-residential properties eligible?

Commercial, non-residential properties and properties using private waste collection services are not eligible for the free hard waste collection service.

To be eligible for a hard waste collection, your property must be a residential property that is paying for kerbside waste collection (regular bin collections for landfill, recycling, and food & garden organics (FOGO).

This service is designed to assist residential households in managing small amounts of unwanted items, such as couches and furniture that are no longer needed. It is not intended to manage waste produced by businesses.

What if my collection is missed?

Different hard waste streams will be collected by different trucks, so your hard waste may be collected in stages. If only half your hard waste is collected at one point, they'll be back for the rest before the week is up.

If by the end of the week your hard waste has still not been collected, contact Council on the 1st of July.

You should also check your mailbox in case you have received a knock back notice, meaning you may have placed out an unaccepted item or have too much waste.

Click on the different tabs below to see what can and can't be collected.

What can be collected?

The below items can be placed out for collection:

  • Hot water systems
  • Baths
  • Household furniture
  • Lawn mowers and other garden tools
  • Garden furniture
  • Timber no more than 1.2m in length (up to 10 pieces)
  • All glass (must be securely wrapped in cardboard with the word 'glass' clearly marked on it)
  • Scrap metal and small car parts (place in a separate pile on the kerbside). Excludes batteries and tyres.
  • Crockery, pottery, glass ware and ceramics.
  • Carpet (maximum 3 rolls, must be rolled and tied and no longer that 1.2m in length)

What can't be collected?

The below items cannot be placed out for collection:

  • Excessive waste more than 3 cubic metres
  • E-waste, i.e. any items with a plug, battery or power cord such as televisions, computer equipment/printers, whitegoods (fridges, washing machines, dryers and ovens) and small household appliances
  • Mattresses and/or bases
  • Cardboard packaging (e.g. boxes)
  • Asbestos
  • Medical waste
  • Waste oils (e.g. cooking and motor oils)
  • Paint
  • Building, renovation or demolition materials (e.g. plasterboard, kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, fences, bricks, concrete, rubble or excavation material)
  • Waste from industrial or commercial premises
  • Chemicals and chemical containers
  • LPG bottles
  • Car batteries and tyres
  • Green waste (e.g. tree prunings or stumps)
  • Bags of household garbage.
  • Metal sheets
  • Paint tins
  • Expanded polystyrene
  • Bean bags
  • Oversized items

Whitegoods such as fridges, freezers, heat pumps and air conditioners etc. are accepted free of charge at the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre. 

Hard waste in commercial quantities will not be collected.

Hard Waste Collection Week 2026

29 June to 3 July 2026

Find a new home for your hard waste

Before deciding to dispose of your hard waste, we're encouraging you to find a new home or use for your item by:

  • Giving it to a friend
  • Donating it to a charity shop (contact them first to ask if they want your item), or
  • Selling or giving it away online.

Year-round hard waste disposal

Residents can dispose of hard waste items year-round via the Drysdale Resource Recovery Centre. A selection of items are free to dispose of in domestic quantities.

 

For information on pricing, eligibility and more, visit their website.

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