What Is a Green Waste Bin?
In NSW, green bins (also called garden or organic bins) are designed for plant-based material that can be recycled into compost and mulch.
- Standard size: 240 L (some councils offer larger options)
- Usually collected fortnightly
- Used only for approved green bin waste
These bins play a major role in reducing landfill and supporting local green waste recycling programs.
What Can Go in the Green Waste Bin?
If it grows in your garden, it usually belongs in the green bin — with a few limits.
Accepted Green Waste
- Grass clippings and lawn cuttings
- Leaves, flowers, and weeds
- Small branches and prunings (cut to fit with lid closed)
- Palm fronds (trimmed down)
- Small amounts of untreated timber
Keeping items loose or in paper bags helps with processing.
What Cannot Go in Green Bins?
To avoid contamination, keep these out of your green bin:
- Soil, rocks, turf, or sand
- Treated or painted timber
- Plastic pots, bags, or garden ties
- Food scraps (unless your council provides FOGO)
- Pet waste
- General rubbish or recyclables
Contaminated bins may be skipped or stickered by council collectors.
What Happens to Green Waste After Collection?
After collection, green waste is transported to licensed processing facilities where it is carefully sorted to remove contamination such as plastic or treated timber. The clean material is then shredded to improve decomposition efficiency.
Next, the waste undergoes controlled aerobic composting, with temperature, moisture, and oxygen levels managed to break down organic matter and destroy weed seeds and pathogens. Once stabilised, the material is screened and matured to meet Australian quality standards.
Through services like Central Coast kerbside pickup, this process diverts large volumes of garden waste from landfill each year and turns it into high-quality mulch and compost used by councils, landscapers, and home gardeners.
Are Green Waste Bins Free in NSW? (Council-by-Council Guide)
Here’s a quick overview of whether green waste bins are included as part of your council waste service, and what it costs to upgrade to a larger bin in different NSW council areas in 2025.
| Council Area | Green Bin Included? | Optional Larger Bin? | 2025 Cost (if optional) |
| Central Coast Council | Yes – standard | Yes (360 L) | $92/year |
| Newcastle City Council | Yes – standard | No | Free |
| Lake Macquarie City Council | Yes – standard | Yes | $85/year |
Extra Options for Managing Green Waste in NSW
Sometimes, your standard green bin just isn’t enough for seasonal garden work or major pruning. In these cases, green waste bin hire or a green waste skip bin can be a practical solution. Hiring a bin allows you to remove garden waste at your own pace without waiting for council collections.
Private services often provide flexible sizes, from small bins for weekend tidy-ups to larger skips for full tree lopping. This means you can dispose of palm fronds, branches, and garden debris safely, while keeping your garbage green bin clean and avoiding contamination.
Using these options also helps households participate in proper green waste recycling, ensuring that plant material is composted or mulched rather than ending up in a landfill. For residents who miss the council clean up Central Coast or don’t have room for extra Central Coast kerbside pickup, hiring a bin or skip is a reliable alternative.
To understand the difference between skip bins and rubbish removal services, read our guide: “Skip Bin Hire vs. Rubbish Removal Services: Choose the Right Solution.”
When You Need More Than a Green?
Sometimes the fortnightly 240 L bin just doesn’t cut it – especially after storms or a big prune. In the table below, you can see the sizes, prices, and typical uses of green waste skip bins.
| Size | Best For | 2025 Price (Central Coast/Newcastle) |
| 2–3 m³ | Weekend tidy-up | $320–$390 |
| 4–6 m³ | Palm fronds, branches | $480–$680 |
| 8–10 m³ | Full tree lop or renovation | $780–$950 |
Same rules as the wheelie bin, but you can fit whole branches (up to 2 m long).
In the table below, you can see how green waste skip bins compare to standard kerbside green bins in terms of volume, collection, branch size, and cost.
| Factor | Kerbside Green Bin | Green Waste Skip Bin |
| Volume | 240 L every 2 weeks | 2,000–10,000 L at once |
| Wait time | Fortnightly | Same-day or next-day delivery |
| Branch diameter | Max 10 cm | No limit |
| Cost | Free or low annual fee | One-off charge (but no overloading) |
RubbishGo Services for Green Waste Removal
When the council bin is full, or the branches are too big, we’ve got you.
1. Garden Waste Removal (Fast Pickups Across Newcastle & Central Coast)
- Truck crews (not just a trailer) – we load it for you
- Same-day service available 7 days
- From $180 for a standard ute load
2. Tree Waste Removal & Branch Disposal
- Whole palm trees, stumps, root balls – no worries
- We cut to size on-site if needed
3. Bulk Green Waste Collection (When Council Pickup Isn’t Enough)
- Storm clean-ups, deceased estates, rental tidy-ups
- Fixed price, no weight limits
How to Prepare Your Green Waste for Collection
A little bit of prep on your end makes the job faster for the crew, keeps your price down, and stops any headaches on the day. Here’s exactly what we recommend:
- Cut branches and palm fronds to size
– For skip bins: under 2 metres long
– For truck/ute pickups: under 1 metre is ideal (we can cut on-site if needed, but it saves time if it’s already done). Longer pieces stick out and can be dangerous on the road.
- Stack it neatly and accessibly
Put everything in one easy-to-reach spot: near the kerb, driveway, or side gate. Loose piles scattered around the yard add 20–30 minutes (and sometimes extra labour cost).
- Separate heavy or wet material if possible
Wet grass clippings, soaked palm hearts, or big stumps are heavy. Let us know when you book – we’ll send a bigger truck or extra blokes so there’s no second trip fee.
- Remove any non-green waste
No plastic pots, wire, tie-string, stakes, or bags (even “biodegradable” ones). If we have to pick them out, it slows everything down.
- Tell us about difficult access
Steep driveways, steps, narrow lanes, or units with no lift? Just mention it when booking – we’ll bring the right gear (sack trucks, extra straps, or even the smaller 4×4 truck).
Do these simple things, and most jobs are done in 10–15 minutes flat.
Book a Green Waste Removal Service with RubbishGo
When your bin for garden waste is overflowing, or the job is too big for council services, RubbishGo is ready to help.
👉 Book online anytime via our Contact page
📞 Or call 0413 245 605
From green waste bin overflow to full green waste skip bin solutions, we’ll take care of it — quickly, safely, and responsibly.