The number of visitors to our beaches increases each year, and the existing bin system is not designed to cope with this amount of waste.
In an effort to reduce rubbish left on our beaches, we're moving public bins off the sand and placing them at key points along the foreshore, such as pathways and car parks, where our waste vehicles can efficiently service them.
This will allow us to increase the number of bin collections in summer and keep up with the growing demand.
During the summer, the number of people visiting our beaches increases, and our current waste bins are unable to handle the amount of waste. As a result, the bins become full and overflow because waste vehicles can't reach them due to the crowds. To address this issue and reduce beach litter, we are relocating the bins from the sand to key access points along the foreshore, where our community can easily access them, and our waste vehicles can efficiently service them.
The new public bins will be moved from the sand to key beach access points, such as pathways, car parks, and neighbouring streets, in late August and September 2024.
The new public bins will be located at key access points to the beach, such as pathways, neighbouring streets and car parks.
There will be 216 public bins along the foreshore.
The public bins will be collected daily during our summer schedule (1 November - 30 March) and three times per week during our winter schedule (1 April - 31 October).
Each bin will also be fitted with a sensor that triggers a collection once it is 70% full. Additionally, more collections will be scheduled on days over 30 degrees and when there is a public event on nearby. This is in addition to our summer and winter collection schedules.
If you notice one of the bins getting full, you can report it by scanning the QR code on each bin or calling our Customer Care team on 1300 653 356.
We are one of two coastal Councils in Victoria that still have public bins on the sand. The remaining Councils either did not have bins on the sand to begin with or have since moved them.
The issue is not the number of public bins on the sand but the inability of our waste vehicles to access and empty them safely on busy days. By moving the public bins off the sand to key access points along the foreshore, we can empty them easily and more often, keeping our beaches cleaner.
We are dedicated to caring for our coastline and urge beach users to do the same. Each bin will be fitted with educational signage to assist with correct bin usage, and beach users will be encouraged to take their rubbish home if bins are full.