Managing our waste together

Ratepayers have a separate waste charge to fund essential services to achieve our community's waste goals.
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Separate waste charges

All rateable properties will have a charge of $230.30 for waste services in 2025/26. This cost is separate from general rates. It covers the costs of kerbside bin collection and hard waste collection. The increase in the charge this year is due to a 22 per cent rise in the cost of the state landfill levy.

By separating the cost of waste services from general rates we can manage the costs of delivering these essential and valued services in the most fair, equitable and transparent way. Many of our neighbouring councils have taken this 'fee for service' approach for several years.

The separate waste charge means general rates are lower.

Kerbside FOGO bin charge

Properties that have the kerbside collection will also pay an additional charge of $77 for the convenience of the service. Many Port Phillip residents live in apartments or small properties who can’t accommodate additional bins or don’t generate a lot of garden organic waste. Our hybrid approach to FOGO means only properties with a garden and space for an additional bin will get a kerbside FOGO bin.

If your property doesn't have a separate FOGO bin, you can use our FOGO communal hubs.

Transforming waste and recycling in Victoria

The Victorian Government is transforming the state’s recycling sector. Its 10-year action plan, Recycling Victoria, requires that all households be offered a kerbside glass recycling service by 2027 and a food and garden organics recovery service by 2030.

What we've done to change and improve waste management

We've introduced:

Managing change and growth in waste management

Our updated Don’t Waste It! Waste and Recycling Strategy 2025-2028 outlines how our City will reduce waste, recover more resources and deliver services that are needed now and in the future.

Much has changed in recent years – our population has grown, new standards for household waste services have been introduced and the cost of waste disposal continues to rise.

This Strategy sets out how we will meet these challenges, including:

  • the introduction of a kerbside glass service

  • fortnightly garbage collection for houses and townhouses

  • improvements to bin access and placement

  • strengthened litter and dumping prevention

  • new policies that will support a circular economy across the municipality.

Read the strategy to learn more: Don't Waste It! Waste Management Strategy 2025-28

What can you do to help?

Consume less and think before you buy

We can all reduce our impact by purchasing, consuming and throwing out less.

You can:

  • avoid single use plastics
  • buy in bulk to avoid packaging
  • ask yourself, “Do I really need this?”.

Reusing items is the next best thing. You could:

  • purchase items at op shops to avoid new and packaged products
  • borrow things from friends, neighbours or family members
  • use the library instead of buying books
  • donate things to others when you no longer want them.

Understand how to recycle

We are getting better at recycling, but too much recyclable material still ends up in landfill because it's placed in the wrong bin or can't be sorted properly.

Find out what can and can’t be recycled in your recycling bins at home.