Bulk Waste Service FAQ

Our bulk waste service is provided upon request, rather than as a scheduled collection for your neighbourhood. To arrange a service, please complete our bulk waste service request form or phone 02 4974 2000.

Our on-demand bulk waste service has been operating since 2012. The service was introduced in place of neighbourhood-wide kerbside pick-ups to:

• Provide flexibility—you can request a service when it suits you.
• Reduce waiting times—by giving you the option to bring your bulk waste to Summerhill Waste Management Centre through our self-haul service.
• Keep our local streets clean and tidy.
• Deliver cost savings.
• Reduce health and safety risks associated with waste scavenging.
• Allow you to dispose of a range of items not suitable for kerbside collection—through the self-haul service option.

You can request two services (that is, two kerbside pick-ups OR two self-haul vouchers, or one of each option) within any rolling 12-month period.

The rolling period begins from the time that you last used the service. For example, if you used the service in February and again in October this year, you could request your next service from February next year.

Entitlements can't be 'accrued' if you don't use the service.

Absolutely. In fact, only the people that live at a property—whether they rent or own it—can request a bulk waste service for that residence.

This service condition was introduced in 2015, following a Council resolution to make our service more accessible to all residents.

Special booking conditions apply if you live in multi-unit dwellings and social housing. Please see our bulk waste service overview for details.

Once we process your service request, we'll send you a booking confirmation with your collection date. Please allow up to 14 working days for us to process your request and send your confirmation details.

Your collection will be scheduled for the next available date on the day after your regular weekly kerbside bin collection day. For example, if your bins are serviced on a Monday, your bulk waste collection will be scheduled for the first available Tuesday. (Please note: this does not apply to Rankin Park residents, whose bulk waste will be collected on the first available Monday).

Wait times vary based on demand for the service and can increase sharply during holiday periods, especially in the lead up to Christmas. Please see our bulk waste service overview for current wait times.

Please have your items on the kerb by 5am on your collection day. You may place items out the day before your service, but no sooner than this.

Placing your waste out too early can encourage others to add items to your pile. Our collection team will only collect up to two cubic metres of bulk waste from your property; it is your responsibility to remove or dispose of any uncollected items.

Our collection team will arrive any time after 5am on your scheduled collection day.

On occasion, short delays may occur due to unforeseen circumstances, such as adverse weather, fleet outages, traffic or access issues.

If none of your bulk waste has been collected on your scheduled date, please leave it on the kerb. If we have not picked it up within three working days of your collection date, please notify us on 02 4974 2000.

If we only collected some of your bulk waste, you may have put out items we don't accept, or you may have exceeded the two cubic metre quantity limit. Please check your letterbox for a note, or call us on 02 4974 2000.

We will collect tree branches up to 100mm in diameter (that is, 10cm thick).

No other garden waste is accepted through the kerbside pick-up. You can use your green-lid bin to dispose of leaves, grass clippings, weeds and small prunings.

Self-haul vouchers expire three months from the date they are issued, to provide sufficient time to receive and use your voucher.

If you don't use your voucher by its expiry date, your bulk waste entitlement will be forfeited.

You can arrange for someone to bring your bulk waste to Summerhill providing they present your proof of occupancy when redeeming the voucher. 

Proof of occupancy can include a current driver licence or a recent utility bill or rates notice, so long as the mailing address on the bill/notice matches the property address on the self-haul voucher.

Yes. You can combine two self-haul vouchers issued to the same property address to dispose of up to four cubic metres of accepted bulk waste items (PDF 52kB).

If you have more than two cubic metres of bulk waste, you may not be permitted to use your voucher and may be required to pay our standard disposal fees and charges.

Yes. You can bring in up to two cubic metres of bulk waste, including garden waste.

You can use your self-haul voucher to dispose of up to 100kg of asbestos only. The following conditions apply:

• Once you have received your self-haul voucher, you must pre-book asbestos waste 24 hours prior to disposal on 02 4974 2000. Please note that asbestos waste can only be dropped off on weekdays prior to midday. Bookings can be made between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
• No other types of bulk waste may be brought in with the asbestos.
• Normal charges will apply for quantities above 100kg.
• Loads of asbestos waste over 100kg (including asbestos contaminated soil) or more than 10 square metres of asbestos sheeting must be registered with the NSW Environment Protection Authority, using the online WasteLocate tool, before transporting them to Summerhill. More information about transporting asbestos and the requirements for using WasteLocate is available on the EPA website.

Please note: asbestos is strictly not accepted via the kerbside pick-up service. Fines apply.

The Summerhill Community Recycling Centre (CRC) is a free service for all NSW residents. You don't need to use a self-haul voucher to dispose of household problem wastes ordinarily accepted, free of charge, at the Centre. If you only have a few problem wastes, however, we understand you may wish to include them in your bulk waste load.

If you use a self-haul voucher to dispose of problem wastes, the standard service quantity limits still apply—typically a maximum of 20L or 20kg of each waste type. For example, you can't use a self-haul voucher to dispose of two cubic metres of paint.

Please note: Self-haul vouchers can't be used for liquids, gases or hazardous/poisonous items other than those accepted at the Summerhill Community Recycling Centre.