Your options for waste disposal

Every year, Hume residents (including those renting homes) and residential ratepayers living outside of Hume have access to a range of free services to help you dispose of waste that can't go in your household bins.

Your current bulk waste entitlements include:

  • two at-home hard waste collections.
  • two tip passes to drop off waste at our Resource Recovery Centres for free.

These are valid until 30 September 2024.

From 1 July 2024, your tip passes will become waste vouchers. Each household will have five waste vouchers that can be used to book at-home waste collections and/or take waste to our Resource Recovery Centres for free. We're also introducing a new bundled branch collection service. Limits and conditions apply.

Book a hard waste collection

We can collect your unwanted household furniture, mattresses, whitegoods, electronics, tyres and more from your front lawn or driveway.

Learn more about booking a hard waste collection.

Visit a Resource Recovery Centre

Take your waste to our Resource Recovery Centres. You can even drop off waste for free (conditions apply). Some items such as batteries, electronics, paint and cardboard can be taken for free any time.

Find out more about visiting the Resource Recovery Centres.

Hume Clean Days

Hume Clean Days are held quarterly on the first weekend of March, June, September and December.

On Hume Clean Days, Hume residents and residential ratepayers can take the following items to our Resource Recovery Centres for free:

  • Couches
  • Mattresses
  • Tyres
  • Garden clippings (up to 4m3)

Homeowners, renters and residential ratepayers living outside of Hume are all welcome at Hume Clean Days. Proof of Hume residency (e.g. a driver's license or rates notice) is required at the gatehouse. Ratepayers living outside of Hume must show both their rates notice and a form of ID.

Hume Clean Day conditions

  • The following limits apply per household, per Hume Clean Day. Additional waste may be subject to fees:
    • Up to 15 items total of couches, tyres and mattresses; and
    • Up to 4 cubic metres of garden clippings.
  • Waste vouchers or fees will apply to any other waste, unless listed as an item accepted for free any time.
  • Proof of Hume residency is required. Residents must show a valid driver's licence or similar. Ratepayers living outside of Hume must show their current rates notice and valid ID.
  • No trucks or commercial quantities accepted.
  • Single-axle trailer, double axle-trailer, car boot, van, station wagon, 4WD or utility tray (ute) only.
  • The following garden material will not be accepted for free on Hume Clean Days. Waste vouchers or fees may apply for the following:
    • yuccas, ivy, cacti, thorny plants, roses, vines, palm trees, bracken, succulents
    • food or vegetable waste
    • branches or stumps with a diameter of more than 15cm
    • timber
    • garden clippings mixed with rubbish.

Upcoming Hume Clean Days

Recycling stations (e-waste, batteries and more)

Recycling stations are located indoors at the Hume Global Learning Centres in Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Sunbury.

You can drop off a range of things for recycling, including:

  • Mobile phones
  • Cameras
  • Household batteries
  • DVDs, CDs, video tapes (including the cases)
  • Floppy disks and storage cards/USB sticks
  • Headphones and earbuds
  • Cords and cables
  • Keyboards and computer mice
  • Remote controls
  • Any other small e-waste.

Items are securely collected by our contractor and phones are restored to factory settings for data protection. 

If you are concerned for your privacy, please remove personal information from your devices before putting them in the Recycling Station.

Items placed in the Recycling Stations are reused and upcycled where possible. If they can’t be repurposed, they are recycled.

Larger e-waste such as household appliances and white goods, computers and laptops, televisions and DVD players, lighting equipment and lightbulbs, and electric or electronic tools and toys can be dropped off at our Resource Recovery Centres any time for free or collected as part of a hard waste booking.

Battery recycling

Household batteries can be dropped off for recycling at our battery stations located at:

  • Greenvale West Community Centre, 7 Ventura Way, Greenvale
  • Mickleham North Community Centre, 82–90 St Georges Boulevard, Mickleham
  • Kalkallo Community Centre, 33 Toyon Road, Kalkallo
  • Tullamarine Library, 58 Spring Street, Tullamarine
  • Hume Global Learning Centres in Broadmeadows, Craigieburn and Sunbury

All small household batteries can be dropped off at these stations. Larger batteries, such as power tool batteries, can be dropped off at our Resource Recovery Centres any time for free.

Drop-off points for batteries and other e-waste are also available at a number of major supermarkets and other retailers. Find out more here.

Tree mulching days

Take your clean, freshly cut tree branches to our mulching days for free (conditions apply).

Mulching Days are available to Hume residents and residential ratepayers. Residents will need to show a current drivers’ licence as proof of Hume residency. Ratepayers living outside of Hume will need to present their current Rates Notice and drivers’ licence.

Free mulch can be made available. Please let staff know when you drop off your branches. You will be given a timeframe to return on the day to collect your mulch.

Conditions:

  • Only clean, freshly cut, tree branches will be accepted.
  • A maximum of 4 cubic metres of accepted material applies, per household, per mulching day.
  • Commercial quantities will not be accepted.
  • You must follow the safety instructions of staff at all times.
  • Do not place branches on top of other items in your vehicle or trailer.
  • The following materials will not be accepted:
    • Material containing rubbish such as bricks, concrete, wire, plastic bags and/or pots
    • branches with fruit
    • dry timber
    • vines
    • grass clippings
    • thorny plants
    • roses
    • palm trees
    • yuccas
    • bracken
    • succulents

Upcoming mulching days

Book a bundled branch collection

We can collect your tree branches from your front lawn or driveway.

Learn more about booking a bundled branch collection.

Other waste disposal options

Container Deposit Scheme

Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) is a new Victorian Government initiative that provides a 10 cent refund for every eligible drink container returned. Victorians will be able to collect eligible drink containers and earn 10 cents per container at more than 600 refund points across the state.

The scheme started across Victoria on 1 November 2023 and aims to reduce litter, create new economic opportunities, generate new jobs and turn drink containers into new recycled products.

How does CDS work?

Victorians can collect eligible drink containers and take them to a refund point to earn 10 cents per container. Depending on the type of return point you deposit your containers at, this refund can be received in the form of cash, a retail voucher, an electronic refund, or you can donate your refund to a donation partner of your choice.

Who pays the 10 cents for each container?

The scheme is funded by the beverage industry, and once returned, the containers become material for recycling. CDS Vic is a product stewardship scheme. That means beverage companies pay for the 10 cent refund for each container and the operating costs of the scheme. It also means beverage suppliers are playing their part in helping to reduce litter, improve recycling rates and reduce the number of containers that end up in landfill.

Who is responsible for coordinating Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme?

CDS Vic operates on a partnership model, where VicReturn is the scheme coordinator, and handles the financial operations, marketing, and community education to maintain scheme integrity. Our Zone Operators Return-It, TOMRA Cleanaway and Visy establish and oversee the refund points, ensure refunds are provided to customers and ensure proper recycling of the containers. The Victorian Government regulates the scheme to ensure its efficient operation.

The Zone Operator for Hume City Council is TOMRA Cleanaway.

Where are the refund points in Hume?

A number of refund points are located in Hume, including depots, Reverse Vending Machines and over-the-counter locations. Search the map on the CDS website to find one near you.

For more information on Victoria's Container Deposit Scheme visit cdsvic.org.au

Community e-waste recycling

E-waste (anything with a cord, plug or battery) and batteries must never be put in household bins. Always take them to a drop-off point for safe recycling.

You can drop off e-waste and batteries for free at our Resource Recovery Centres, recycling stations and battery drop-off points.

Enable Australia is a social enterprise in Broadmeadows that accepts working and non-working computer equipment for refurbishment and recycling.

A number of major retailers also collect batteries and other e-waste for recycling. Check with your local store to find out what they collect.

The Recycling Near You website can also help you find local recycling programs for lots of different materials, including:

Donations and recycling

One person's trash can be another person's treasure. You can avoid placing reusable items in your general hard waste by doing the following:

  • Donate items in good working condition to your local charity store, or arrange for the charity to collect your items.
  • Sell or donate your unwanted items on social networking sites such as Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree.
  • Post a notice up at your work or on community notice board advertising your item(s).
  • Post your items on a reuse website such as Freecycle.
  • Hold a garage sale and enjoy the social perks of meeting locals.

Enable Australia offers a free drop off service for e-waste at their Broadmeadows Recycling Centre, Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm. The following items can be dropped off free of charge:

  • Computers
  • Laptops
  • LCD monitors
  • Printers
  • Keyboards, mice and cables
  • Server and networking equipment
  • Phones

Diabetes Australia can pick up unwanted clothing, toys and small household items for resale in Savers Stores. All proceeds go towards funding Diabetes Australia's health and welfare programs.

Household chemicals (Detox Your Home)

Sustainability Victoria hosts free household chemical collection days. Register for this free event online or call 1300 363 744. A full list of upcoming Detox Your Home collections is available on Sustainability Victoria's website.

Skip bin permits

Council offers many options to dispose of hard waste for free, including at-home hard waste collection and tip passes for every residential rate payer and those renting homes.

If you require a skip bin, the company you hire must apply to Council for permission to place bins on the carriageway or nature strip. Council's Policy is based on the VicRoads Code of Practice for the Placement of Bins on Roadsides.

For domestic waste, a casual permit fee of $51.85 per bin for each placement is payable. Download the Skip Bin Permit Application Form(PDF, 147KB)

Building site waste containers (including skip bins) will require an Asset Protection Permit to occupy a road as part of building works or a building site under Part 4 of the Hume City Council General Local law No. 1. Enquiries should be made with Building Control Services.

The applicant is required to fully comply with Council's Shipping Containers and Waste Skips Policy(PDF, 208KB) .

Penalties for not complying with the Local Law may include an on-the-spot infringement of $200, or if warranted the company may be summonsed to appear at a Magistrates Court where the maximum penalty may be up to $2000.

Bins that do not comply with Council's Policy and that have been placed in a dangerous situation will be impounded by Council and all costs involved will be charged to the bin owner.

Asbestos removal and disposal

Transportation and disposal of asbestos is controlled by the EPA.

Go to the EPA website to find out about:

  • asbestos identification
  • asbestos removal
  • asbestos disposal.

Waste in our community

Community litter bins and smokers poles

To request a new litter bin or smokers pole, please send your request to us in writing via email contactus@hume.vic.gov.au or call us on 9205 2200.

Please include the location and reason for installation in your request. All requests for litter bins and smokers poles will be reviewed and you will be contacted with the outcome of the review. 

Graffiti removal and dumped rubbish

Council is committed to creating a clean and tidy city - and we need your help. You can help us clean up dumped rubbish, litter and graffiti by reporting it as soon as you see it.

Report an issue

Dumped rubbish, litter and graffiti make an area look untidy and uncared for. Studies have shown that small crimes, such as littering, can lead to more serious crimes if left unattended.

Graffiti on private property

Maintaining your property and removing any litter and graffiti quickly sends a message that you are proud of your property and reduces any recognition time for the graffiti.

Council provides free graffiti removal kits for residents to help clean up small areas of graffiti. To obtain a kit, visit a Customer Service Centre with proof of Hume residency. Please note that kits cannot be mailed out. There are two types of kits available -  for sensitive surfaces, such as painted walls and fences, and brick and masonry surfaces.

For larger areas of graffiti, Council has a graffiti removal trailer that targets hot spots such as parks, playgrounds, shop fronts, buildings, fences and laneways.