It’s a modern urban dilemma: What do you do when your garbage won’t fit in the bin? Do you go on a midnight raid, depositing little packages in your neighbour’s bins? Probably not.

Do you leave it stinking up your house until next week? Definitely not!
 

Don’t do the wrong thing

Not having adequate bin space is not an excuse for doing the wrong thing. Most councils are pretty serious about rubbish dumping and will fine you if you do something they deem illegal.

Illegal dumping may include:

• Using an incorrect bin to dispose of excess waste material. For example, putting household garbage in the garden vegetation bin.
• Placing any of your excess waste in a neighbour’s bin without their prior permission.
• Placing excess material outside of bins. For example, leaving it on the street, naturestrip or on top of bins.
• Placing excess domestic waste in any public bins. For example, public bins in parks or a street rubbish can.

How can your council help?

Different regulations apply from council to council, but it’s common for councils to offer garbage bin size upgrades (sometimes with a fee) and usually free recycling bin upgrades.

If all else fails, package your excess waste up carefully. Double bagged and sealed is the best way to do this. Make sure you store it somewhere birds, animals and insects can’t get to it, and on your next garbage collection day, put your excess waste out for collection.