Residential – shared bins

This page details the waste and recycling design requirements for residential development with shared bins, such as residential flat buildings, shop top housing, group homes, boarding houses, co-living housing, hostels, and multi dwelling housing (with a communal bin storage area).

If a development is part of a mixed-use development, refer to the commercial and industrial waste guidelines in addition to the requirements of this page.

Residential and commercial waste and recycling is to be stored and collected separately. This is to ensure there is no conflict between residents and businesses and each service is used and managed correctly.

Designing for Council collection– shared residential bins

Section 496 of the Local Government Act 1993 requires council to make and levy an annual charge for the provision of domestic waste management services for each parcel of rateable land for which the service is available. In Inner West, this means that all residential development must be designed and built to enable waste to be collected by Council or Council’s contractors.

Even where private contract waste services are endorsed by Council, developments are required to be designed to accommodate Council servicing. This will enable Council to collect the waste if the contract management changes. Additionally, an annual levy must be paid by each dwelling to Council to cover access to Council’s clean-ups, Community Recycling Centres, and the Weekend Transfer Station, while contributing to future waste infrastructure.

Bin capacity - shared residential bins

Every rateable residence in the Inner West is supplied with a waste and recycling service. At present, householders can, and should, separate recyclable items, food organics and garbage into three different streams.

Inner West Council requires the following capacity for each waste stream per unit:

• 120L of red lid garbage per week
• 120L of recycling per week
• Food organics disposal depends on the level of engagement of the residents
• Garden organics disposal depends on the size and character of any landscaped area

Developments are to be designed to accommodate red lid garbage, yellow lid recycling and green lid food and garden organics (FOGO) bins in accordance with the following bin calculation rates:

• Red lid garbage bins required, 1 X 240L bins per two units
• Yellow lid recycling bins, at least 1 x 240L bin per 2 units, but preferably 1 X 240L bins per unit. As the yellow lid recycling bins are generally collected fortnightly, a 240L bin per unit equates to 120L of recycling disposal per week
• Green lid food and garden organics (FOGO), 1 x 240L bin per 10 units. However, this rate may change dependent the scale of landscaped grounds, if each unit has balcony gardens and if an independent gardening service has been employed that removes garden organics from the development or not

For example, if a development has 40 units the total number of bins that would need to be accommodated for are as follows:

• 20 x 240Lred lid garbage bins
• 40 x 240L yellow lid recycling bins
• 4 x 240L green lid Food and Garden organics (FOGO) bins

Note: The use of 660L bins for all waste streams is discouraged due to WHS concerns.

Bin collection frequency – shared residential bins

If a development has four or less units, the following bin collection schedule applies:

• The red lid garbage bins are collected fortnightly
• The green lid food and garden organics (FOGO) bins are collected weekly
• The yellow lid recycling bins are collected fortnightly

If a development has five or more units, the following bin collection schedule applies:

• The red lid garbage bins are collected weekly
• The green lid food and garden organics (FOGO) bins are collected weekly
• The yellow lid recycling bins are collected fortnightly
  
  

Dimension requirements for a bin storage area (BSA) and bins – shared residential bins

Bin storage areas are to be designed to accommodate the footprint of each bin plus a manoeuvrability buffer around each bin to allow for the ease of movement. The manoeuvrability buffer area is 50% of the bin footprint, as detailed below.

Depending on the size and scale of the development, multiple BSAs may be required to ensure efficient and effective waste management for the development

For example, if a development has 40 units the total size of the bin storage area is as follows:

• Bins required:
  • 20 x 240L red lid garbage bins + 40 x 240L yellow lid recycling bins + 4 x 240L green lid FOGO bins, resulting in 64 x 240L bins
  • Total bin footprint including manoeuvrability buffer required: 64 x 0.65 sqm, resulting in a total 41.6sqm 

Please consider that Council has the right to change the size or number of bins provided based on servicing requirements. Sufficient space should be considered for future changes.

Waste and recycling collection for 660L– shared residential bins

Where a residential development proposes to use 660L garbage bins, the following additional requirements must be met:

• The collection point must be flat (zero gradient)
• The bins should not be moved more than 10m from the storage area to the collection point
• The gradient on this route of transfer must be level

Please note that Council will only collect these bins from the designated collection point only

Bin storage areas – inside each unit

A unit must be provided with enough space to separate and store bins for garbage, recycling and food organics, this includes:

• Garbage and recycling bins with a capacity to store garbage and recycling generated over a two-day period, this is approximately 20L for each bin type.
• A  7L FOGO (food and gardens organics) kitchen caddy bin to store food scraps

The location of each bin type within the dwelling could be nominated on the floor, on the kitchen counter, within a cupboard or a drawer.

Location requirements for a bin storage area (BSA) – shared residential bins

The location of the bin storage area (BSA) must be identified in the submitted architectural plans for any development application. The location of a BSA for a development is required to be easily accessible, convenient, and secure for residents to access. To determine the most suitable location for a BSA the following must be considered:

• The walking distance in which residents must travel from the dwelling to the BSA or disposal point (such as bin cupboard etc). Note that the maximum walking distance (excluding vertical travel by lift) from a unit to the BSA or disposal point is 30m
• The route in which residents must travel from each dwelling to the BSA or disposal point, noting that the route should be direct and avoid obstacles such as stairs
• The impact of the BSA or disposal point on surrounding habitable areas, including adverse impacts of noise, odour, and amenity
• The proximity of the BSA or disposal point to high pedestrian traffic areas within a development. For example, BSAs near areas such as development entrances, lifts, or car parking areas are preferable
• The visibility of the BSA from the public domain and its integration with the built form. BSAs should be located to minimise visual impacts to the streetscape, building entry and discourage vandalism
• The scale of the development and whether multiple BSAs are required. In larger developments, or if there are multiple buildings, this is encouraged
• What type of waste is being stored within the BSA. Where a garbage chute is proposed, and recycling and FOGO is stored separately to the chute dispensing room, ensure an extra garbage bin is included in plans close to FOGO and recycling bins to prevent contamination
• The transfer route for bins from the BSA to the Council truck collection point is to be as short as possible, avoiding traversing near habitable areas
  

Construction finishes and fixture requirements for a bin storage area (BSA) – shared residential bins

The following construction finishes and fixtures are to be incorporated within each bin storage area (BSA) to ensure that each BSA is fit for purpose:

Surface areas:

• The floors, walls and ceilings are to be finished with a durable, smooth-faced non-absorbent material capable of being easily cleaned. Note:  the floor-wall intersection is to have a covering that extends up the wall to a height equivalent to any bins stored within the BSA
• The floor is to be constructed of concrete at least 75mm thick
• The floors of are to be graded and drained to a Sydney Water approved drainage fitting
• The entry is to be suitably graded to allow for the easy transportation of bins
• All internal surfaces are to be lightly coloured

Fixtures:

• Bin washing facilities, including a bin wash bay, hot and cold taps. Taps are to be positioned away from the bins for easy access even when the BSA is at capacity
• Artificial lighting controlled by switches located both outside and inside each BSA
• A dedicated shelf or cupboard to store compostable food organics bags (supplied by Inner West Council) for residents to collect as needed. This space should also have provisions for spray bottles, chemicals, salt and other cleaning agents

Signage:

• Bin signs or stickers are available from Inner West Council which clearly describes the types of materials to be deposited in each bin type.
• Signage to keep bin storage doors closed when not in use

Doors and entries:

• A close-fitting and self-closing door or gate operable from outside and within the room, noting all doors or gates are to have a minimum clearance of 1.2m
• Design to minimise vermin and pest access 
• Security measures to restrict access to prevent the entry of trespassers
• The inclusion of a PIN lock where a BSA is secured and serviced by Council. This is to be 4 digits and is to be determined by Council staff. For further information contact Council.

Ventilation:

• Natural ventilation openings to external air, to meet requirements of BCA.

Where natural ventilation is not possible, a mechanical exhaust system is to be installed in accordance with relevant Australian Standards.

Bulky waste storage - design and location - shared residential bins

Developments with five or more units must include a dedicated area for the temporary storage of bulky household items awaiting collection by a waste contractor or Council. These are items that cannot go in the bins, including mattresses, furniture, large cardboard etc. This area can be a room or caged area but must be separate to the bin storage area (BSA).

The total minimum storage area dedicated for bulky waste that must be provided is as follows:

• Developments with 5 to 20 units are to allocate a minimum of 6sqm for bulky waste storage
• Developments with 21 to 40 units are to allocate a minimum of 12sqm for bulky waste storage
• Developments with greater than 40 units, for every additional 10 units an extra 2sqm for bulky waste storage is to be allocated, in addition to the 12sqm.

Each bulky waste storage area must:

• Have a doorway with a minimum width of 1.5m to allow for easy movement of large bulky items
• Be located on the ground or basement level of a development
• Be secured if caged, to allow the contents to be visible from the exterior
• Be accessible to all residents
• Consider the frequency of collection of bulky waste items to ensure that the storage area does not reach its capacity
• Accommodate additional space for specific resource streams as per council drop off and collection services

Please note bulky waste items must be collected from the kerb outside the subject property.

Route of transfer for bins – shared residential bins

The route of transfer is the route the resident or caretaker will take the bins from the BSA to the collection point and should be shown in a diagram in your submitted waste management plan. The route of transfer must:

• Be at least 1.2m wide
• Have a maximum gradient of 1:14 for up to 240L (level for 660L where pre-approved)
• Be free of steps
• Not pass through any internal areas of the dwelling

The following additional design measures can be incorporated into the design to allow for the ease of transfer of bins from the BSA to the collection point:

• Sensor lighting or illuminated pathways
• Pathways constructed of solid and non-slip surfaces
  
  

Waste chutes - shared residential bins

In addition to a communal bin storage area (BSA), the use of a waste chute system in a development needs to be convenient and consider potential system failures. Where a waste chute system is proposed as part of a development, each habitable floor of the development is required to have a chute room which is required to include:

• A chute inlet hopper to accommodate red lid garbage waste
• The floors, walls and ceilings to be finished with a durable, smooth-faced non-absorbent material capable of being easily cleaned and are to be lightly coloured
• Artificial lighting controlled by switches located both outside and inside each chute room
• Operational signage for the chute inlet hopper provided by the manufacturer and signage which clearly describes the types of materials to be deposited in each bin type
• Space to accommodate bins for recycling and food organic waste (where proposed)

The following waste chute features are not permitted by Council:

• Waste compactors as these can overload the bin capacity
• E-diverters as they have a higher rate of blockages
• Chutes for yellow lid recycling as these are likely to cause cross contamination, blockages of the chute by cardboard or safety concerns regarding glass breakages

The management of recycling and food organics must be accommodated within a communal BSA. However, these types of waste streams can also be accommodated within a waste chute room where it can be demonstrated that ongoing waste management services will be provided.

Ongoing waste management services will require a caretaker to regularly rotate, clean and service the bins on each floor to ensure that the bins do not overflow, hinder the function of the waste chute room or result in adverse amenity impacts by way of odour. The transportation of these bins is required to occur through a separate goods and services lift within the development.

Noting, additional bins may be required depending on the number of dwellings each bin is to service and the frequency of bin rotation. This can be provided by Council.

Temporary waste holding area - shared residential bins

A temporary waste holding area may be required if the permanent waste storage room does not meet Council’s collection requirements, dependent on the scale of the development, the location of the bin storage area (BSA) and the type of bin collection by Council for the development. This should be considered, for example, for large developments with constraints for Council vehicle access, if Council approves a collection procedure where bins are transferred from this area to collection vehicles at the kerb. Additionally, it can be considered where a BSA is located in the basement of a development and a temporary waste holding area may be proposed on the ground floor to allow for the ease of bin transfer to the collection point.

As a minimum, a temporary waste holding area is required to:

• Accommodate all designated bins for the development until they are collected
• Not be used to store bins permanently, a caretaker is required to transfer all allocated bins from the communal bin storage area to the holding area so that the bins can be serviced and to return emptied bins to the permanent bin storage area after collection
• Be located away from habitable areas to minimise amenity impacts by way of noise and odour
• Artificial lighting controlled by switches located both outside and inside each chute room
• Be compatible with any other functions or operations of the site, for instance a temporary waste storage holding area should not be located in a car parking space or a loading dock as this will hinder the function of these uses of the site
  
  

Collection point - shared residential bins

Council will consider kerbside or onsite collection, and this information must be provided in your submitted waste management plan. The method appropriate for each site will depend on the number of units, site constraints, street type, and frontage available. Council holds the right to choose the collection point for each property, based on our collection routes, and truck access.

As stated above in the Location requirements for a bin storage area (BSA), the distance between the BSA and the collection point by Council’s trucks is to be minimised. This is to ensure the safety of staff and reduce the likelihood of traffic disruptions.

Kerbside collection

Kerbside collection where bins are placed on the kerb by residents or staff, Council crew move the bins to the truck, empty them, and then return to kerb for residents or staff to return the bins to the bin storage area.

Developments must demonstrate that the collection point can accommodate all the required bins. The following must be taken into consideration:

• Collection point to be adjacent to the property boundary and not impeding neighbouring property’s boundary
• Minimum of 1.2 metres access for pedestrians
• The collection point cannot be located adjacent to the following structures and services:
• Intersections, roundabouts, or traffic-calming devices
• State or regional roads (main roads)
• Narrow lanes which heavy rigid vehicles cannot access
• Obstructions such as trees, overhanging buildings, under eaves and low overhead powerlines
• Walls and garage doors
• ‘No stopping’ signs
• Handle of bins facing kerb

Collection from the temporary bin holding area

This procedure must be approved by Council staff at the DA stage and will only be considered if kerbside and onsite collection is not possible due to site constraints.
The temporary bin holding area must meet these requirements prior to approval:

• Distance from temporary holding area to the truck must not exceed 10m
• Any doorways or passages must be at least 1.2m wide
• Transfer route must be free of obstacles or steps
• Route of transfer must be level (zero gradient)
• A no stopping zone for the truck should be considered adjacent to holding area

Onsite collection

Onsite collection where Council trucks drive into the property, empty the bins and drive out is required for developments with 50 or more units. Council and Council’s contractors use heavy rigid vehicles for waste, recycling, and FOGO collection. Developments must demonstrate that:

• A heavy rigid vehicle can enter and leave in a forward direction
• Height along truck route in development, including entry points, ceilings etc, is designed for an operational height of 4.5m
• The access and egress route are designed to support a minimum of 26 tonnes i.e. the weight of a fully laden truck
• The turning circle is designed to accommodate a length of 9.5m and a width of 2.6m
• Access complies with AS.2890.2 - 2002 Parking Facilities Part 2: Off-street commercial vehicle facilities and Council’s requirements (whichever is greater)
• No turntables are permitted

Where a site is in an area where Council’s trucks or Council’s contractors utilise side arm collection vehicles, the collection point for a development must demonstrate the following additional criteria:

• Is a minimum 2m away from trees, bus stops, street furniture and road infrastructure

Note: To confirm whether your site is located in an area where Council’s contractors utilise side arm collection vehicles, please contact Council.