At a glance
- Houses and up to three units
- One red general waste bin emptied weekly and one yellow recycling bin emptied fortnightly, by automated truck
- Four or more dwellings
- Shared red bins emptied twice weekly and shared yellow bins emptied weekly; the contractor takes the bins from the compound and returns them by 5pm
- Putting bins out
- On the kerb (not the road) the night before or by 7:00am on the day. Bring them back within 24 hours. Collection can happen any time from 7:00am to 5:00pm
- Problem with a bin
- Phone J.J. Richards on 1800 290 581, 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, or use the web form; there is no after-hours phone number
- Who it’s for
- Darwin residents, new arrivals and tenants sorting out bin day
- What to do now
- The City has waste collection calendars for household and multi-dwelling bins; it says a yellow bin with too many non-recyclable items has its whole contents sent to landfill
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against the City of Darwin waste and recycling pages
- Not yet confirmed
- How long a new bin service takes: two City pages give two business days and at least five working days. Whether any public holiday collection changes apply this summer: the City says changes are notified in the press and on its website
In Darwin, a house gets a red general waste bin emptied every week and a yellow recycling bin emptied every second week. Bins go on the kerb the night before or by 7:00am, wheels facing your property, at least half a metre apart. This guide sets out the bin rules, what to do when a collection is missed, and what the City’s A to Z guide says goes in which bin, from City of Darwin’s own pages checked on 9 November 2026.
Which bins do I get?
The City runs collection through its contractor, J.J. Richards and Sons. Its household page splits properties into two services.
| Service | Who gets it | Bins and frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Household | Houses, or unit blocks with up to three dwellings on the site | One red general waste bin weekly; one yellow recycling bin fortnightly; emptied by automated truck |
| Multi-dwelling | Units, townhouses or apartments with four or more dwellings | Shared red bins twice weekly; shared yellow bins weekly; manual collection from the waste compound |
On the multi-dwelling page, the City says residents must leave bins in the designated compound at all times, and that the number of bins depends on the number of units. The contractor retrieves the bins and returns them to the compound by 5pm the same day.
How do I find my bin day?
The City’s My bin day page links to two calendars, one for household bins and one for multi-dwelling bins. Collection can happen at any time between 7:00am and 5:00pm, so the City asks for bins to be out by 7:00am rather than at a set hour. Its household waste and recycling calendar booklet, which includes bin days, recycling tips and the pre-cyclone clean-up, is free from the Council; tell them whether you live in a house or a multi-unit dwelling.
What are the rules for putting the bin out?
- Place bins on the kerbside, not the road, at least half a metre apart.
- Put bins out the night before or by 7:00am on the day, and bring them back within 24 hours.
- Face the wheels towards your property.
- Keep bins clear of overhanging branches and other obstructions.
- Close the lid, and do not overfill: the City lists “no overflowing bins”.
- Keep each bin under 70kg.
The City also says you cannot have a bin emptied twice in one week, but you can ask for an extra bin using its Additional Kerbside Service Form. There is a special service for elderly people and people with mobility limitations; call the City on 08 8930 0300.
What if my bin is missed, damaged or stolen?
Contact J.J. Richards on 1800 290 581 from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, or report it through the City’s web forms; the City says the contractor will be in touch within one business day. There is no after-hours phone number, so out of hours the City’s page lists the web form and the email address admin.darwin@jjswaste.com.au. If you would rather talk to the Council directly, the number is 08 8930 0300.
Public holidays do not stop collection. The City says collections are maintained on public holidays, and that any changes to the schedule are notified in the local press and on its website.
How do I get a bin service for a new home?
Fill out the City’s New Waste Collection Service Form and email it to darwin@darwin.nt.gov.au. The two City pages that cover this disagree on timing: the New Households page says bins are delivered within two business days of the application being processed, while the household bin page says to allow at least five working days for the service to be arranged and the bins delivered.
What goes in the yellow recycling bin?
The City says the contents of yellow bins go to the J.J. Richards and Sons Materials Recovery Facility, where they are sorted, baled and sent for reprocessing. It also warns that if a yellow bin is found to have too many non-recyclable items, the entire contents go to landfill. The City’s A-Z Recycling Guide lists where each item goes; the table is a selection from it.
| Yellow recycling bin | Red general waste bin |
|---|---|
| Aluminium cans, foil, lids and trays | Plastic bags and soft plastics |
| Steel cans and tins, and steel lids | Takeaway coffee cups and lids |
| Cardboard, paper, newspapers, magazines, paper bags | Polystyrene and styrofoam |
| Egg cartons, toilet paper rolls, tetra paks and long life cartons (remove the plastic lid) | Meat trays and bubble wrap |
| Glass jars and wine bottles | Nappies, tissues, menstrual products |
| Hard plastic containers, large plastic lids, milk bottles, ice cream containers, margarine tubs | Small plastic lids and plastic spray and pump heads |
| Takeaway food containers (plastic); pizza boxes, clean with no food | Greaseproof paper, waxed paper, glossy wrapping paper, shredded paper |
Drink containers have two options in the City’s guide: beer bottles, cans, plastic bottles and soft drink bottles and cans can go through the Container Deposit Scheme or in the yellow bin. Kitty litter can go in the red bin or be composted at home. Tea bags and paper towel can be composted at home or go in the red bin.
What does not go in either bin?
The A-Z guide sends a range of items elsewhere. These are from the City’s list:
| Item | Where the City says it goes |
|---|---|
| Car batteries, household batteries, chemicals, oil, paint, light bulbs, tyres (domestic only) | Shoal Bay Transfer Station |
| Home battery systems | External recycler |
| Mobile phones, ink cartridges, X-rays | Recycling station at Shoal Bay or the Civic Centre |
| Clothing, books, kitchenware, toys and furniture in reusable condition | Shoal Bay Reuse Shop |
| Asbestos, soil, household insulation, needles, animal droppings | Contact City of Darwin on 08 8930 0300 |
| Toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes | Red bin, or an external recycler |
| Green waste | Not the yellow bin; take it to Shoal Bay Mulch |
Our Shoal Bay guide sets out the facility’s hours, access tags and sorting rules.
Sources
- City of Darwin — Bin Collection, Household (checked 9 November 2026)
- City of Darwin — Bin Collection, Multi-Dwelling
- City of Darwin — New Households
- City of Darwin — My bin day
- City of Darwin — A-Z Recycling Guide
- City of Darwin — Household Waste
Featured image: Nightcliff Beach, September 2025 (photo: DaHuzyBru / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with City of Darwin or J.J. Richards and Sons. Collection rules and contact details can change.