How Do You Check You Are Paying for Larger Bins?

LBananaTree on 19/10/2023 - 07:55

Hi all,

We moved into this house for over 5 years and noticed our garbage and recycle bins are larger than all of our neighbours. never noticed anything on the rates bill so wondering are we paying extra for this extra capacity we don't actually use or have we somehow scored larger bins from the previous owner?

Calling the council to clarify seems to be last resort as knowing them they will probably shrink the bins and we still pay the same rates.

If anyone knows any extra information, much appreciated if you can shed some light as tightening everything these days.

kind regards,
Bananatree

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Zeph101 on 19/10/2023 - 07:59
    -3

    The previous owners would have paid an upfront fee for a larger bin.

  • Muzeeb on 19/10/2023 - 08:18
    +4

    Our council rates notice says what bin sizes we are paying for. Everyone gets the same recycling bin size but general rubbish varies by request.

  • Hellfire on 19/10/2023 - 08:32

    My council publishes the cost of bin sizes online but it isnt on the rates notice. However you can just cross reference to find out what you are paying for.

  • John Kimble on 19/10/2023 - 08:35

    Ask your neighbours?

  • Naigrabzo on 19/10/2023 - 09:02
    +2

    Just call the council and ask. If they ask for address give a random address so they can't track ya.

    • djones145 on 19/10/2023 - 16:07
      +3

      hello my name is mr burns i believe u have been charging me for a bigger bin

      ok mr burns whats your first name and address

      i dont know…..

      • Naigrabzo on 19/10/2023 - 16:19

        1000 Mammon Ln. Springfield, JI/Jl

      • BananaTree on 19/10/2023 - 17:07

        haha this sure brings back memories

  • avoidfullprice on 19/10/2023 - 09:33
    +4

    Step 1. Identify the volume of your bin. Measure the width/depth/height and calculate the volume in litre. If maths is tricky for you, just measure the width and look up which bin size from say https://www.wheeliebinco.com.au/shop-1

    Step 2. Find your rate notice. It might not be on your most recent one but at least one will say what bin size you been charged with.

    Step 3. Feel content or complain to council for refund

    • Muzeeb on 19/10/2023 - 09:36
      +1

      AFP's simple 3 step guide to great success.✅

      • avoidfullprice on 19/10/2023 - 09:37
        +4

        If you find my comment helpful, click Like, Subscribe and hit the Bell icon

    • BananaTree on 19/10/2023 - 17:23

      Thank you for this Avoidfullprice I've got 240l bins for both recycling and garbage. looked up the old rates notice (not the installment ones) and there are only three line items. general rate (the main bill) fire service levy residential fixed and fire service levy variable. no mention of waste charge at all.

      so far, signs are pointing to I should stfu as I might not even be billed for this thing at all!

      thank you all for all of your helpful replies!

      • avoidfullprice on 20/10/2023 - 18:15
        +1

        May we know which council you live in? I’ll look up their fees

        • BananaTree on 20/10/2023 - 18:36
          +1

          I'm in Hume. I think I'm supposed to get 80l for garbage and 240l for recycling. everyone else seems to have a green bin too but we did not.

          also just realised the old owner had a small 80l bin they used as a water tank hidden in the corner of the backyard. is there a chance he just bought a bigger bin, and just pushed out the big bin regardless of being issued a small one? though the big bin does has council markings on it. yeah don't know what's going on. maybe he worked for the council and some how gotten away with it? I noticed he had used sign post pillars that you usually see on the street to prop up the fence.

  • AngoraFish on 19/10/2023 - 10:12
    +1

    In my council area the garbage charge is listed on council's website. eg

    80L rubbish + 240L recycling + 240L green waste $XXX
    120L rubbish + 240L recycling + 240L green waste $XXX

    The residential garbage charge is a separate line on the rates notice. No doubt the exact system varies a bit state by state.

    Tracking back the garbage charge rate charged on the rates notice to the rate associated with the relevant bin options on council's website tells me which bins I am paying for.

    Having said this, you can also just call council. People's bins go missing all the time. You just ask the receptionist to look up which bins you should have so that you can confirm that you have the correct ones. You don't actually have to tell them which bins you think you have and they certainly won't bother to ask. They're just normal people in a call center, not some nefarious criminal organisation trying to trick you into giving away secret bin information so they can charge you more.

  • soan papdi on 19/10/2023 - 10:47

    For Hume Council:
    https://www.hume.vic.gov.au/Residents/Waste/Waste-Service-Ch….

    The Kerbside Waste Charge only covers our standard bin services: 80L garbage bin and 240L recycling bin. Additional bins or larger garbage bins are optional and additional costs apply.

    Food and garden waste bins are currently an opt-in service that also incur additional costs. However, under the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria policy and action plan, all households must have access to a food and garden waste service by 2030. We plan to introduce this service to all households in 2024. From that time, food and garden waste bins will no longer incur an extra cost, and instead be included in the Kerbside Waste Charge.

  • Kouki on 19/10/2023 - 11:55
    +1

    Check your rates notice again (not instalment notice)

    It should have the breakdown with the waste charge. If it only lists the $ amount and not the size, check council website or call them with a general enquiry to ask what the waste charges are for each bin size.

  • Porker on 19/10/2023 - 12:18

    For my Council, the general waste bin gets charged extra for larger bin sizes.

    For green and recycling, there is no extra charge for larger sizes

    Each Council has its own payment scheme/schedule. Best check your local Council

  • Sammy2000 on 19/10/2023 - 13:16

    Maybe your neighbours refused the larger sized bins when they previously changed.

  • Euphemistic on 19/10/2023 - 18:08

    Just check your local council website for what their bin charges are. They should identify their fees and charges clearly.

    Here we can get a bigger recycle bin for a one off payment. We can get a weekly rubbish (red) pickup for an annual fee. The red bin is fortnightly. I believe you can ask for a larger red bin if your household is over a certain size - not sure if that costs.

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