← Back to Waste TypesGeneral Waste

General Waste Collection

The red-lid bin. Takes everything that can't be recycled—food-contaminated packaging, broken items, soft plastics, mixed materials. Most businesses need at least one general waste bin as their catch-all.

Common for:

Every business type. Offices generate surprisingly little general waste once paper and containers are separated. Retail and hospitality produce more due to packaging and food waste.

What goes in general waste

General waste is your default stream for anything that can't go elsewhere. Food-contaminated cardboard, soft plastics (chip packets, cling wrap, plastic bags), broken items, styrofoam, and mixed materials that can't be separated.

Landfill levies make general waste the most expensive disposal stream in Australia. NSW charges over $150 per tonne in metro areas, with other states not far behind. This is why separating recyclables—cardboard, bottles, food scraps—can significantly reduce your costs.

What can't go in: liquids, hazardous materials, batteries, e-waste, construction rubble, or medical waste. These require specialist disposal.

Which size for your business

A 10-person office generating typical waste fills a 240L bin weekly. A busy cafe produces more—usually 660L or even 1100L. Warehouses with high packaging waste often jump straight to front-lift 1.5m³ or 3m³ containers. If you're unsure, start smaller—it's easy to upgrade.

Available Bin Sizes

Wheelie Bins

120 Litre General Waste Bin - Compact red wheelie bin for small businesses

120L Wheelie Bin

From $12/week

Smallest wheelie bin. About waist height, holds 2-3 garbage bags. Suits very small offices or low-waste retail.

Configure

240 Litre General Waste Bin - Standard red wheelie bin for commercial businesses

240L Wheelie Bin

From $18/week

Standard domestic bin size. Holds 4-5 bags. The starting point for most small businesses.

Configure

660L Wheelie Bin

From $45/week

Large 4-wheel bin, chest height. Holds 12-15 bags. Common for cafes, restaurants, and medical centres.

Configure

1100L Wheelie Bin

From $75/week

Largest wheelie bin, about 1.3m tall. Holds 20+ bags. For busy hospitality or large offices.

Configure

Front-Lift Containers

1.5m³ Front-Lift

From $120/week

Entry-level steel container. Emptied by front-lift trucks. For medium warehouses.

Configure

3.0m³ Front-Lift

From $165/week

Mid-size container for distribution centres and manufacturing. Often the sweet spot for high-volume sites.

Configure

4.5m³ Front-Lift

From $210/week

Maximum standard size. For large factories, transport depots, major construction projects.

Configure

Need help choosing?

If you're not sure which size suits your business, contact us. We can advise based on your industry, staff numbers, and waste patterns.