City of Gold Coast: Local Council Rubbish Collection Details
The City of Gold Coast local council offers residential bin collections, on-demand kerbside collection, and waste and recycling centres. Likewise, it promotes waste reduction through reusing, recycling, and recovering materials.
The Gold Coast City’s use for general waste, recycling, and organic waste bin collection all feed into a significant overhaul of bin collection schedules designed for reliability and safety, which consider growth and road network changes.
Kerbside recycling services are provided to help reduce landfill waste. Residents are encouraged to use the Recyclepedia to identify where household waste and recyclables belong and access it through a mobile app.
In addition, the Gold Coast City Council has partnered with the Handel Group to implement an on-demand FLEXiSKiP kerbside collection service for bulky waste. One free FLEXiSKiP is available per eligible household per year. Collection is restricted to three cubic metres in volume, items no longer than 1.5 metres.
Acceptable Items
What you can put in your local rubbish bin in Gold Coast varies according to the councils. They usually accept:
- Furniture
- Children's car seats
- Bulky toys
- Equipment (including gardening equipment)
- Wood (two meters in length max)
- White goods
- Household appliances
- Construction materials (not rubble)
- Metal products/scrap metal
- Hot water systems
- Electronic waste (E-waste)
- Computers
- Televisions
Collection Schedules
Bin collection schedules can change, and in some areas, changes to bin collection are now enforced. In the City of Gold Coast, changes to residential wheelie bin service schedules were implemented on March 17, 2025.
General waste bins are collected weekly, recycling bins are collected fortnightly, and green waste bins are collected on the opposite fortnight to the bin recycling.
On the other hand, the Council on the Sunshine Coast collects between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM on the service day, and users can set personalised bin-day notifications and reminders through the Sunshine Coast App.
Enquiry Contacts
- Cleanaway: Dial 13 13 39 for general queries or 1800 774 557 for emergency spill services.
- Nationwide Waste Solutions: Call 1300 729 922 or visit their website.
- Veolia Australia and New Zealand: You can discuss your waste, recycling, energy, or water management needs through the contact form on their website or by phone.
- Local Councils or the Police Assistance Line: Call 131 444 for assistance regarding dumped cars.
- EPA: Call 131 555 for grease, oil, and odours on beaches.
What Rubbish Does the Gold Coast Council Accept?
General Waste (Landfill) Bin
The City of Gold Coast make a 240-litre general waste bin available for standard bin sets. Animal waste bags (such as dog waste bags) should go into the general waste bin. This waste needs to be bagged correctly and put into the respective bin.
Recycling (Yellow Lid) Bin
As the name implies, what goes inside the recycling bin is recyclable waste, including:
- Paper
- Cardboard
- Glass
- Plastic
- Metals
- Detergent and shampoo bottles
- Butter, yogurt and ice cream tubs
- Skincare, soap, and shampoo bottles
- Soft drink and juice bottles
Green Waste Bin
The green waste bin accepts grass clippings, cut palm fronds, small twigs and branches (up to 40cm long), leaves, prunings, weeds and other plant matter, including flowers and dead foliage.
Items Not Accepted by Gold Coast Council Collections
Some items are not accepted for kerbside collection for various regulations and safety reasons.
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous wastes like gas bottles, chemicals, asbestos, and fibro sheets can be dangerous if not used properly or disposed of improperly. These materials need special attention to avoid environmental contamination and potential health risks.
Liquids, Oils, Solvents, and Paints
These can leak, causing environmental damage or contaminating the recycling process. To prevent environmental pollution, they must be taken and deposited at collection points.
Mirrors and Glass-Contained Furniture
Mirrors and glass furniture are not collected because they can break and injure collection personnel. Glass must be packed and disposed of safely to avoid unwanted accidents and serious injuries.
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials
Generally, construction and demolition materials are not collected and don’t go through kerbside collections. They are too heavy and bulky for normal collection vehicles and can damage certain parts of readily available equipment. They can also include hazardous materials, which would need special disposal procedures.
Household Waste and Recycling
FLEXiSKiP is designed specifically for bulky items, excluding general household rubbish and recycling. Household waste and recyclables can be disposed of via the normal bin collection services.
Batteries and Mobile Phones
Mobile phones contain batteries and other components that can cause pollution if not recycled properly. They also need to be recycled in material recovery facilities so that valuable materials can be recovered and the items that go to landfills can be reduced.
Car Parts, Including Tyres
Car parts like tyres are not accepted because they need specialised recycling processes. Tyres, for instance, can be repurposed into different items, but doing so requires special equipment and places.
Regular Rubbish Collection Schedule on the Gold Coast
Residential bin collection service is available for most freestanding residential properties. One set of bins consists of a 240-litre general waste bin, a 240-litre recycling bin (with a yellow lid), and a 240-litre green organics bin (with a green lid).
The general waste bin is emptied once a week (on the same day as recycling and green organics), whereas the recycling and green organics bins are emptied on alternate weeks. Collection services are normal on all public holidays, including Christmas and New Year.
The online Bin Day Finder can check your bin collection day, which started March 17, 2025, but you'll need to get the new schedule by searching for your address on the City of Gold Coast website. Doing so reduces the time spent on the road and provides more sustainable service. If you receive bin reminders from the City of Gold Coast App, open it to refresh your bin collection schedule.
Special Bulk Rubbish Collection Dates & Guidelines
The City of Gold Coast offers FLEXiSKiP kerbside collection service for heavy and bulky waste as part of Operation Clean Up. These temporary sites are for disaster green and general waste only and are for motor vehicles and trailers only. No commercial vehicles are permitted. They will shut down on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
The City of Gold Coast offers a FREE kerbside on-demand FLEXiSKiP collection service for bulky waste. One free FLEXiSKiP is available to each eligible household each year. This service enables residents to get rid of large items such as couches, mattresses and other bulky household items.
Important Contacts for Gold Coast Council Waste Services
City of Gold Coast Council contact information for assistance, reporting missed collections, and other information is found in the table below:
General Questions and Immediate Assistance
- Phone: 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326). If you have urgent inquiries or emergencies, call only 07 5582 8211.
- Evening and Weekend Urgent Care: 1800 637 000
- Phone: In urgent and/or dangerous situations that affect public safety, contact 1300 GOLDCOAST (1300 465 326) or 07 5629 5620.
Waste and Recycling
- Waste Management: Call 07 5667 5976 to confirm eligibility or submit your details to be included for future service if your property falls on or near the boundary of a council collection area.
Missed Collection, Damaged or Stolen Bin
- Bins: Visit the City of Gold Coast website for case-by-case details on assisted household bin service, fee-paying wheel-out wheel-back service, etc.
- FLEXiSKiP Enquiries: Email disputed charges to bulk-kerbside@goldcoast.qld.gov.au.
Additional Services and Information
- General Info and Services: Email them at mail@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
- City App: Report issues, see Bin collection schedules, Recyclepedia and more.
- Mobile Apps Team Email: mobileapps@goldcoast.qld.gov.au for app issues and feedback.
How to Handle Large or Prohibited Waste Items
The City of Gold Coast has waste and recycling centres where you can also get professional cleaning or removal services.
Waste and Recycling Centres
Residents can dispose of certain items for free at city waste and recycling centres, but they are subject to limits. These centres accept different materials, and an interactive map helps find locations, services, and operating hours.
Pay attention to the rules regarding what is accepted and what domestic waste will cost. Waste disposal fees apply to commercial waste, cargo from outside the Gold Coast, and some regulated domestic wastes such as tyres, asbestos, and hazardous waste.
Temporary Waste Disposal Sites
The City of Gold Coast establishes temporary disaster waste disposal sites for residents to deposit disaster-related green waste and general waste in response to disasters such as Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Temporary sites were offered in March 2025 until April 1 in the Tugun Village Community Centre and Somerset Drive, Mudgeeraba.
FLEXiSKiP Kerbside Collection
The City of Gold Coast's approved partner for on-demand bulky kerbside collections, Handel, is available to eligible residents. One free FLEXiSKiP can be ordered per resident annually. FLEXiSKiPs for disaster-related waste requested during certain periods, such as post-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, may not be counted towards the annual total.
Council-approved materials include soft furnishings, furniture, timber, flooring, mattresses, household wastes, light garden wastes and electrical items. You cannot deposit such waste as food, batteries, mobile phones, paint, oils, solvents, chemicals, asbestos, glass or mirrors.
Benefits of Hiring All Gone Rubbish Removals for Special Waste
All Gone Rubbish Removals provides an easy, convenient, and professional rubbish removal service in Gold Coast. We offer same-day service for bookings made before 2 PM. Call us at 0420 102 118 to dispose of unwanted possessions quickly and hassle-free.
Our three-tonne trucks can take garden waste, construction rubble, pianos, deceased estate items and other household junk. We also accept construction waste such as bricks, timber, tiles, dirt, rocks and rubble.
We handle all the heavy lifting so you don’t have to lift a finger. Our friendly and professional team also sweep up and cleans the area. You can count on us seven days a week, making it possible for homes and businesses to be rubbish-free every day of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do I do if my rubbish isn't collected?
If your rubbish does not get picked up, you must check on the collection day, check placement, check for contamination or overfilling, or report a missed collection.
2. Can I leave extra bags next to my bin?
No, leaving excess bags next to your bin in the City of Gold Coast is illegal dumping and not allowed.
3. Does the council accept electronic waste?
Electronic waste collection is available through the Gold Coast Council at its recycling centres.
4. Is garden waste always recyclable?
Most garden waste is recyclable, but not always. Some types of contamination or waste can make recycling garden waste impossible.
5. How do I arrange a special council collection?
When organising a Gold Coast special council collection, it is usually best to use services for disposing of bulky rubbish or other waste, like the FLEXiSKiP Kerbside Collection.
Driven by a passion for helping customers achieve clutter-free spaces, All Gone Rubbish Removals has become a go-to resource for waste management, featuring over 100 expert articles on rubbish removal and sustainability. Aaron’s dedication to efficiency and customer satisfaction ensures his business remains a leader in the industry.
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