Comingled Recycling

Yes. Budget Waste Services collects commingled recycling from commercial sites across metropolitan Melbourne, including the CBD, inner suburbs and outer industrial areas. Regular service areas include Dandenong, Truganina, Tarneit, Laverton and Somerton. Collections run on a set weekly, fortnightly or monthly schedule depending on your volume.

The main benefit is participation. When staff have one recycling bin rather than four separate streams, more material ends up in the right place and less ends up in general waste. That raises the diversion rate and reduces the volume going to landfill, which is usually the more expensive stream. It also takes up less floor space than multiple separated bins, which matters on sites with limited back of house area.

Yes. Budget Waste Services works with commercial clients only, not residential. Commingled recycling suits offices, retail sites, shopping centres, hospitality venues, warehouses, aged care facilities and schools. Bin size and collection frequency are set against your actual volume rather than a standard package.

Yes, provided the bin stays clean. A well run commingled stream diverts a significant share of a commercial site’s waste from landfill. The limiting factor is contamination: food, liquid and general rubbish in the recycling bin can cause the load to be rejected at the sorting facility and sent to landfill instead. Correct signage and staff awareness make more difference to the outcome than bin size does.

Glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, containers and tubs, aluminium and steel cans, empty aerosol cans, and liquid paperboard cartons such as milk and juice. Containers should be empty and rinsed, and placed loosely in the bin rather than inside bags. Lids should be closed and the bin should not be overfilled.

Contamination means non recyclable material has gone into the commingled bin, most commonly food waste, liquid, soft plastics or general rubbish. A contaminated load can be rejected at the material recovery facility and redirected to landfill, which removes the environmental benefit and may increase your disposal cost.

Pricing depends on bin size, collection frequency, volume and site access. A 240L bin collected fortnightly costs considerably less than a 1100L bin collected weekly. Commingled recycling is generally cheaper per lift than general waste because the material has recovery value, so moving volume out of the general waste bin and into recycling often reduces total waste cost.

General waste goes to landfill. Commingled recycling goes to a material recovery facility where it is sorted and reprocessed into new material. The practical difference for a business is cost and reporting: landfill is usually the more expensive stream, and recycling volumes can be reported as diversion for sustainability purposes. Most commercial sites find a meaningful share of what currently goes in the general waste bin could go in a commingled bin instead.