_BINS GALORE

The inclusion of a recycled glass bin into the Victorian household bin use and collection schedule now means there are often four bins to be used, stored and put out for collection.  This change over the years from one bin to now four does not seem to have been accompanied satisfactorily by addressing the bin placement and collection expectations / allowances. 

The consequences of this are especially true in areas transitioning from lower to higher dwelling densities. 

In existing and longer-term higher density areas, the local Councils seem to have accepted placement approaches which reflect common-sense but not necessarily safety / other road user concerns.  For example, the photographs below indicate two examples of bin placement in inner areas of Melbourne – one of which clearly requires a two-person collection vehicle or a much lengthier collection time and the other presumably allowing for the mechanical arm vehicle. 

Clearly in these areas, the lack of bin placement space and accessibility based on narrower lots and higher demand for on-street parking results in outcomes as above. 

Suburbs transitioning to increased densities will likely require adaptions to how bin collections are conducted.  One possible arrangement includes allowing bins to be collected from driveways where room for collection is not available on nature strips, although this could not occur on shared driveways.

Alternatively for dwellings abutting a laneway, positioning the bins along the nature strip which runs perpendicular to either end of the laneway would be a possible solution.  

While we acknowledge that traditional bin collection expectations and allowances are not particularly workable in transitioning suburbs, more guidance and flexibility on this issue is required from Councils to ensure that the collection of bins (a once-a-week activity) does not place limitations on the provision of higher density housing.